populous nation of the world have abundant encourage- ment to press forward in their cfl'orts. See Medburst, China ; Hue, Ckiistianiti/ in China. Tartary, and Thibirt ; Morrison's Life; Ahw]. lii-sidtnre in China; K'ldd. Chi- na ; WilWams, Middk- Klnf/dom ; Dooliltle. (7,/»a ,- WW- \iamson,Joiirn( i/s in Xnrt/i China. M laichuria, and Mon- golia ; Lockhart, J/(f//c((/ Missinnani in Cliina; Jlilne, Life in China ; Matheson, J'risht/ltrian Jlission in Chi- na; Dean, China Mission; AViley, I'uh-Chau and its Missions.
16. Jajyan. — This empire consists of three large islands and several smaller ones, which have a superliciid area of 90,000 square miles, and a population of 4(t.(l()(i.(i(iO. The Japanese are divided into two religious sects, called Sinto and Budso, or Buddhists. The missionary socie- ties are the American Episcopal, American Presbyte- rian, American Reformed (Dutch) Church, and American Metliodist Episcopal ("hurch. The Bible version in use is the Japanese. This peculiar country, which, follow- ing the expulsion of the Jesuits in the 17th century, could not be brought under missionar}- influence from being closed to foreigners, has now become so freely open, and brought into such favorable relations with Christian nations, as to encourage the hojie that as a nation it will be entirely Christianized at no distant period. See Smith, \'isit to Japan; Caddell, Missions in Japan; recent /^c^jor/s of missionaries; Mori, L'du cation in Japan.
17. Australia is the largest island in the world, being nearly the size of the whole of Europe. The j'.liorigines, a race more degraded than either the Hottentot or Bush- men of South Africa, are fast diminishing in numbers. The missionary societies are the Colonial Presbyterian, Gossner's Evangelical, Evangelical Jloravian Brother- hood, and Weslej-an Propagation. The migratory hab- its of the native tribes have stood in the way of any great success of missionarj- labors. Some, however, have been reached by locdizing them on mission reserves. The coh)nization and occupation of Australia by (ireat Britain has introduced Christian civilization anil Eng- lish institutions throughout its vast extent, and made it the subject of evangelical labor in modes peculiar to all Protestant Christian countries. See Young, ISoulheiii World; Johson, A list j-aliu ; Strachan, /,?ye of Sawuil Leif/h ; Memoijs ofJiev. B, Carvosso, J). J. Draper, and Nathaniel Tnrner ; Angus. Sarage Life in A7istralia.
18. New Zealand comprises a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, the jjtincipal of which, three in number, are distinguished as the Northern, ^liddle, and Southern Islands. The natives were savage cannibals, wit liout any fixed idea of worshi)), but believers in a great sjiirit called Atua and an evil sjnrit called Wiro. Tiie lirst missions to this people were commenced in 1814 by the Church and Wesleyan missionary societies. The mis- sionary societies now in the field are the Proimgation, Church, North (ierman, and Wesleyan. The Hilile ver- sions in use are the JIaori and New Caledonian. The n.a- tives are now chiefly professed Christians. The Chris- tian .Sabbatli and Cliristian ordinances .ire observed all over the islands, and this triumidi of Christianity, in rescuing such a nation from the depths of heathenism, and even from the practice of the bloodiest cannibalism, is indeed glorious. See Yates, Xew Zealand; Thomp- son, Stoi-y ofNeto Zealand; Jliss Tucker, The Southern Cross and Soiitheiii Crown ; Brown, Xew Zealand and its Aboriyines; Memoirs of J. II. Bumby.
19. Tonga and /•'//(.— Although embraced in the gen- eric title of Polynesia, and even in the minor term South Sea Islands, yet the insular groups known as Tonga and Fiji deserve special notice as having exhib- ited some |iecnliar features of savage life, and corre- spondingly wonderful triumphs of Christian labor. The population of the Tonga, frequently called the Friendly Islands, is estimateil at :)0.000 ; th.ii ..f Fiji, 150.000. scat- tered over not less than eighty ditlereut islands. Can- nilmlism is a characteristic practice of the heathen of Polynesia. In Fiji it was an institution of the people
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interwoven in the elements of society, forming one of tlieir pursuits, and regarded by the mass as a refine- ment. But even this revolting crime has yielded before the mild influence of Christianity, and is for the most part abolished. Perhaps it may be still secretly prac- ticed by a few in some of the islands. The triumphs of the Gospel in these remote parts of the earth have been in every sense wonderful. Cruel practices and de- grading superstitions have given way before Christian teaching. " Thousands have been converted, have borne trial and persecution, well maintained good conduct, and died happy. Marriage is sacred; the Sabbath regard- ed ; family worship regularly conducted ; schools estab- lished generally; slavery abolished or mitigated; the foundation of law and government laid ; many spiritual churches formed, and a native ministry raised up for every branch of the Church's work." The missionary societies are the London, Wesleyan, and a few smaller organizations. The Bible versions are the Fijian and Rotuman. See Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fi- jians ; Miss Farmer, Tomja and the Friendly Isles ; West, Ten Years in South Central Polynesia ; Martin, Tonga Islands; Lawr}-, Visits to the Friendly Islands ; Seemann, Mission to the Fiji Islands; Turner, Nineteen Years in Polynesia ; Waterhouse, King and People of Fiji ; Me- moirs of Mrs. Cargill.
20. The South Sea Islands. — The above term is pop- ularly applied to the islands of the Pacific south of the equator, including the Marquesas, the Austral, the Soci- ety, the Georgian, the Harvey, the New Hebrides, and the Solomon Islands, as well as the groups above noticed. A mission was begun in that distant and degraded re- gion as early as 1797, but the difficulties were so great that it came near being abandoned. But in 1812 the night of heathenism seemed to be suddenly illuminated by the Sun of Righteousness. It has since been fol- lowed by a glorious awakening. Up to that time a na- tive Christian in Polynesia was unknown. Two gener- ations later it was difficult to find a professed idolator in all Eastern or Central Polynesia wliere Christian mis- sions had been established. " The hideous rites of their forefathers have ceased to be practiced. Their heathen legends and war-songs are forgotten. Their cruel and desolating tribal wars appear to be at an end. The people are gathered together in peaceful village com- munities, and live under recognised codes of law. On the Sabbath a large proportion of them attend the wor- ship of God. In some instances more than half the adults are members of Christian churches. They edu- cate their children, they sustain their native ministers, and send their noblest sons as missionaries to heathen lands farther west." In fact, those islands are no longer to be regarded as heathen. See Ellis, Polynesian Re- searches ; Williams, Missionary Enterjnises in the South Sea Islands ; Alartyr of Erromanga ; Life of John Williams ; Gill, Gems from the Coral Islands ; Lundie, Mission in Samoa; Pritchard, Missionary's Reward; Murray, Missions in Western Polynesia; History of the London Missionary Society.