Several attempts were made to open missionary work in Lua Niua,
which was inhabited by a Polynesian race, speaking a language
similar to that spoken by the Tongans and Samoans; but the
heathen priests prevented it. Finally the Rev. J. F. Goldy,
chairman of the Solomon Islands District, took with him a
Christian Tongan teacher named Semisi Nau and a Christian Samoan
named Pologa.
The people, incited by the heathen priests, refused them
permission to land and Mr. Goldy was about to return, when these
two brave men positively refused to leave, saying, “If the
people will not allow us to come ashore we will live in the boat
and preach from the water; but these people _must_ hear of
God’s love for them.”
For three months they lived there, anchoring close to the beach.
They were abused and harried by the people on the land and were
unable to go ashore. There is no fresh water on this island,
and their only drink is coconut milk. Day after day these two
faithful men suffered from thirst, but God touched the heart of
a native who swam out to their boat under cover of night, and
brought them coconuts.
Finally, a friendly chief at the other end of the lagoon invited
them to come ashore and he and his people listened willingly and
eagerly to the story of the gospel. A church has been built and
the gospel has captured that end of the land. (Text.)
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