Christian Cyclopedia

(formerly New Hebrides) Islands ca. 250 mi. NE of New Caledonia and ca. 500 mi. W of Fiji. Area: ca. 4,700 sq. mi. Anglo–Fr. condominium since 1906; indep. 1980. Ethnic groups: mainly Melanesian, some Eur., Polynesian, Micronesian. Languages: Bislama (national), both Fr. and Eng. official. Religions: Presb. 40%, RC 16%, animist 15%, Angl. 14%. J. Williams,* 1st miss., was killed and eaten by cannibals on arrival 1839; many others suffered a similar death. More successful workers include J. Geddie* and J. G. Paton.* Missions include RCs, Angl. Ch. of New Zealand, Australian Chs. of Christ, Seventh-day Adventists, Apostolic Ch. Missionary Movement.