Ten descendants of Methodist missionary Thomas Baker have also come to the village to attend the Christian service followed by a traditional apology ceremony which locals believe will absolve them of the crime of their ancestors.
In 1867 Baker and eight Fijian followers were clubbed to death here and their bodies eaten.
Since then Nabutautau's 200 residents have lived a mainly subsistence lifestyle. They have no school, no medical facilities and no roads.
Baker's distant relatives were warmly welcomed by the village last night, Baker's great-great-grandson Geoff Lester said.
"I am more than over-awed by what is happening," said the 48-year-old Australian.
He said he and other relatives of Baker arrived in the village yesterday and were greeted with a traditional drink kava and a warm welcome before sleeping in the village overnight.
"It was almost bizarre the greeting," he said. "We were overwhelmed by the people who were deeply moved to see us."
Lester said the family had always known about the murder but he stressed that he did not believe that the village was cursed as a result.
A practising Baptist, Lester said that it did not matter so much what he himself believed but what the villagers believed.
"I and my family are more than happy to help them in any way they want us to," he said.
The main ceremony of apology is due to take place on a space of cleared land in the middle of the village where tents have been erected.
Early today, traditional kava rituals were already underway and Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase had arrived to attend the main ceremony.
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I'm surprised they were cursed! I cannot stand anyone or any group imposing on someone else's belief system! Do not shove unwanted information or a belief down an unwilling throat! He deserved to have been a good meal!!!
