In 1835 the British Methodist Missionary Society sent David Cargill and William Cross to Lakeba Island in the Lau group. Their work was supported by Tongans who had already converted to Christianity and had settled in eastern Fiji.
Missionary activity increased from the laet 1830s with the arrival of John Hunt, James Calvert and Richard Lyth with a small printing press. They established the conventions for Fijian writing and translated the Scriptures.
Missionary accounts provide detailed information about Fijian history and culture. Their work was gradually extended through strategic alliances with powerful chiefs. They developed the soli, a Christian form of solevu to attract donations. Despite the efforts of other Christian groups, Methodism remains the main denomination in Fiji.
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