Araga and Opa are thickly populated, but Maewo has a scattered and sparse population. Opa is about sixteen miles from Araga, but a channel of only five miles in width separates it from Maewo.
The languages and dispositions of these neighbouring lands are much more varied and dissimilar than would naturally be inferred from their close propinquity. And the majority of the people, too, seem to prefer an inland situation, all which serve to make the work of the Missionary the more arduous and difficult. On these islands every outward prospect is pleasing, and the inhabitants themselves not so far gone in vileness as to be incapable of improvement, as I hope the following pages will show. The work of the Melanesian Mission has been established in these islands a good many years now, with more or less success, and schools are in active operation as follows:—
At Araga—Wonor, on the Southern face of the island, and Lamoru and Qatvenua on the North.
At Maewo—Tanrig, Tasmouri, Tasmate, Mandurvat, Naruru, and Uta. All these stations are on the North of the island.
At Opa—Tavolavola, Lobaha, Walurigi, the most flourishing of which is that first mentioned.
With these few preliminary remarks and explanations I leave the following simple pages to tell their own story.
CHARLES BICE.
N.B.—The vowels in the Melanesian languages are pronounced as in Italian: a = ah, e = a, i = e.
The letter written n̈ = ng in singer; d = nd, b = mb.