The missionaries there are French priests.
From the multitudinous islands in these regions the "recruits" for the Queensland plantations were formerly drawn; are still drawn from them, I believe.

Vessels fitted up like old-time slavers came here and carried off the natives to serve as laborers in the great Australian province.
In the beginning it was plain, simple man-stealing, as per testimony of the missionaries.

This has been denied, but not disproven.

Afterward it was forbidden by law to "recruit" a native without his consent, and governmental agents were sent in all recruiting vessels to see that the law was obeyed--which they did, according to the recruiting people; and which they sometimes didn't, according to the missionaries.

A man could be lawfully recruited for a three-years term of service; he could volunteer for another term if he so chose; when his time was up he could return to his island.