John Paton

The book John Paton, by Benjamin Unseth is a missionary adventure. He lived from 1824 to 1907. I know he's admired in many circles for bringing the gospel to many islands in the South Pacific, but the impression I got from this book was that he seemed to be satisfied with "conducting worship", and was pleased if the natives simply behaved during it. Then he was surprised when they continued their headhunting and cannibalism. It doesn't seem to me that he actually preached the gospel, so there was no real change in their hearts, and therefore, in their lives.
No doubt, the missionaries who went to those islands first, were brave, and many gave their lives. Paton himself was threatened and hounded and cursed by a particular chief.
When Paton dug a well and provided water, the men saw this as a miracle. They had been trying to talk him out of it, telling him that no one ever heard of anyone digging a hole to get rain. They were afraid they'd be in trouble when a man-of-war arrived and they'd have to explain that he was buried in the ground trying to find rain. They knew they wouldn't be believed. They were also impressed when a death curse placed on him failed. Over time, many were converted and went to their former enemies to share the gospel.
One funny thing: He was in Tanna first, where the cannibals ate the bones of those they killed. When he went to Vanuatu and found mounds of human bones, he asked how they got there. The men were offended and said, "We are not Tanna men! We don't eat the bones!"
Captain Cook always said that when he went to a new island, he always hoped the missionaries had been there first. Understandable since he was bludgeoned to death by the natives on the island of Hawaii.