Trials of a Mission Among Cannibals.

Our trials soon commenced. We found that we were in the midst of those engaged in active war, Feejeean war. The fruits were soon seen: men like fiends dragging their fellow-men to their gods, to their ovens, and then to some secret den to gratify their revenge; for I do not believe they have a relish for human flesh. Thank God, the Gospel has triumphed so far, that they are ashamed, at least, of this sin; and thus we are saved from the horror of seeing men eat men. On the first Sabbath I spent here a human body was brought; which gave me an opportunity of trying the Chief. I went to him and had a conversation, on the evils of war, and the blessings of the Gospel; and then begged that he would not allow any human flesh to be eaten by the Rewa people. He consented at once, and I therefore concluded the body would be buried. Some hours after, I learned that it was in the oven. I hasted to see, and found it was true. I sent to learn why the Chief had not kept his promise. He said, "I have given it to some visitors, and not to the Rewa people." I then requested to have it buried. He yielded so far as not to allow it to be eaten in Rewa, but said it must be eaten, as revenge for some of his people who had been taken in a former war.

Sunday being over, and the wind being unfavourable for the "Wesley," and our respected Chairman, Mr. Lyth, being anxious to get to Vewa to expedite business, we left here with a fine morning, and a full tide to sweep us down the river. Everything seemed happy except the people, who rushed out here and there from their fortified towns, to inquire where we were going. All went on well until we came within a few miles of Bau, when five canoes put out from under the mangrove-bushes, and called to us to stop. We were in haste, as the tide was falling, and we might be left on the reefs; so we kept on, the canoes following us; and, finding that they did not gain on us, they commenced firing, and scattered some twenty balls about our boat, reminding us that "in the midst of life we are in death." We have been in danger since; but the Lord has been mindful of us, and we live still to praise him.