Among the Cannibals of New Guinea. By the Rev. S.
McFarlane, LL.D. (London Missionary Society.)—One can hardly speak in too high praise of this book. It is exactly what it should be, a plain, candid, straightforward story of work. The writer is thoroughly in earnest, and thoroughly believes in what he is doing, but he hides nothing that there is to tell in the way of failure and mistake. And now and then we find just the little touch of humour that is wanted to relieve a narrative of this kind. The original idea of the Missionary Society was to work New Guinea by means of agents from the Polynesian Islands. But it was found that the climate was deadly to the Polynesians, and the newer plan has been to create a New Guinea agency. This has been done with astonishing success. Downright savages have been subjected to training and education, and manifest a great capacity for individual improvement. About cannibalism the writer has some curious things to tell us. The prevalence of the custom is not by any means a sign of the lowest civilisation.
Previous page
