Sailasa Naucukidi
Encyclopedia
Sailasa Naucukidi was a Fijian Methodist missionary who volunteered to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to New Britain
in 1875. He was martyred and eaten by cannibals in 1876.
The mission to New Britain
launched in 1875. George Brown
, the organizer, found his plans going wrong, as a result of the tragic epidemic which killed 40,000 in Fiji, and finally appealed to the students of Navuloa, the Methodist Theological School at the time, describing the dangers and pointing out that they might well be going to their death. 83 students were present and heard the appeal, and went to talk it over with their wives. 83 offered to go.
The colonial government threw many obstacles in their way but they went. By 1876 the new mission field at New Britain had been divided into two areas, one under Aminio Baledrokadroka
and the other under Sailasa, and there were 14 teachers’ stations.
Thus began Fiji’s own missionary enterprise. In the year 1878, Sailasa the Fijian minister was journeying inland with a small party south of Kabakada on the Gazelle peninsula
, and preaching the Gospel as he went; when they were suddenly attacked, killed and their bodies cut up and eaten.
As Thomas Baker
had died in Fiji; so Sailasa Naucukidi died in New Britain under almost identical circumstances, in Fiji’s first missionary experiment.
Lelean Memorial School
, at Davuilevu, Nausori, Fiji
, honours his memory by naming one of its four houses after him.
Fijian missionaries have been used in New Guinea
, the Solomon Islands
, North Australia
and other places.
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
in 1875. He was martyred and eaten by cannibals in 1876.
The mission to New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
launched in 1875. George Brown
George Brown (missionary)
George Brown was an English Methodist missionary and ethnographer.- Early life and education :George Brown was born at Barnard Castle, Durham, England, the son of George Brown, barrister, and his wife Elizabeth, née Dixon, sister of the wife of Rev. Thomas Buddle, missionary in New Zealand...
, the organizer, found his plans going wrong, as a result of the tragic epidemic which killed 40,000 in Fiji, and finally appealed to the students of Navuloa, the Methodist Theological School at the time, describing the dangers and pointing out that they might well be going to their death. 83 students were present and heard the appeal, and went to talk it over with their wives. 83 offered to go.
The colonial government threw many obstacles in their way but they went. By 1876 the new mission field at New Britain had been divided into two areas, one under Aminio Baledrokadroka
Aminio Baledrokadroka
Aminio Baledrokadroka was the original leader of Fiji’s missionary band to New Britain in 1875. He displayed excellent qualities of leadership in the mission to New Britain.The mission to New Britain launched in 1875...
and the other under Sailasa, and there were 14 teachers’ stations.
Thus began Fiji’s own missionary enterprise. In the year 1878, Sailasa the Fijian minister was journeying inland with a small party south of Kabakada on the Gazelle peninsula
Gazelle Peninsula
Gazelle Peninsula is a large peninsula in northeastern New Britain, Papua New Guinea, at ....
, and preaching the Gospel as he went; when they were suddenly attacked, killed and their bodies cut up and eaten.
As Thomas Baker
Thomas Baker (missionary)
The Reverend Thomas Baker was a Methodist missionary in Fiji, known as being the last missionary in that country to be killed and eaten, along with seven of his Fijian followers. The incident occurred in the Navosa Highlands of western Viti Levu in July 1867, and the axe used to kill Baker is...
had died in Fiji; so Sailasa Naucukidi died in New Britain under almost identical circumstances, in Fiji’s first missionary experiment.
Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School is one of the largest co-ed schools in Fiji today. It was established in 1943 and is run by the Methodist Church of Fiji. It is co-located at the Davuilevu Methodist Compound with the and the Young People's Department, which runs training for Methodist catechists...
, at Davuilevu, Nausori, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, honours his memory by naming one of its four houses after him.
Fijian missionaries have been used in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, North Australia
North Australia
North Australia can refer to a former territory, a former colony or a proposed state which would replace the current Northern Territory.-Colony :...
and other places.