PREFACE.

I have tried in the following pages to gather the results of observations made during my many years of acquaintance with the Melanesian people. I once hoped to provide a more complete account of the beliefs and practices of the local people on those islands where I had the opportunity to collect information; however, my stay during my last return to the Melanesian Mission The Melanesian Mission was an Anglican missionary agency operating in the South West Pacific, established in 1849. was too brief for this. Consequently, I must now present what I know is a very incomplete work.

I conducted my observations and inquiries and kept notes between 1863, when I first visited the islands, and 1887, when I left the Mission. This work took place partly in the Melanesian Islands themselves, but mostly on Norfolk Island Norfolk Island served as the headquarters and training center for the Melanesian Mission between 1867 and 1920., where residents from many different islands have been gathered for education over many years. Twice during this time, I worked with individuals from various islands to conduct a systematic study of Melanesian religious beliefs, practices, and the social rules and conditions prevailing among them. On the first occasion, I received invaluable help regarding the Banks Islands from a local man who had reached adulthood before his people were influenced by contact with Europeans or had heard any Christian teachings—the Reverend George Sarawia George Sarawia (c. 1845–1901) was the first Melanesian to be ordained as a Christian priest., the first...