A Fijian village has apologised to the family of a Sussex Christian missionary eaten by tribespeople 136 years-ago.

Thomas Baker's descendants, joined by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and 600 people, attended a tribal ceremony in Nabutautau.

The villagers believe their village has been suffering bad luck since the cannibalism incident in 1867 and hope the apology will help their fortunes.

Mr Baker's great-great-grandson Geoff Baker said he was "overwhelmed" by the greeting his party received at the remote village after arriving there on Wednesday evening.

The journey took them five hours by jeep and the final four kilometres of a makeshift road have reportedly only been bulldozed in the last few days.

They were given the traditional drink of kava and attended ceremonies yesterday at which they took part in village rituals.

There are various stories as to why Mr Baker, from Playden, near Rye, was killed and cooked by the people of Nabutautau on 21 July, 1867.

One is that he touched the head of a chief - still regarded an offence - to retrieve a comb.

The village has no roads, no school and no medical facilities and locals believe its modern-day difficulties stem from the crimes of their ancestors.

"We believe we must have been cursed, and we must apologise for what happened," said a village spokesman.

"When we have made the apology we will be clean again."