Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/262

 232 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. ply "with his wish for a Teacher. He knew him to be a man of blood, beneath whose arm hundreds of victims had fallen, and feared lest this was only a scheme of revenge upon the whites, who had just punished him so severely. Namosi told Tanoa that he intended to lotu, as he was afraid of the white people. The old King expressed his approval, and advised him to reform fully. A Teacher was sent, and Namosi built a large chapel, where many of his people joined him in the new worship.

Thus closes the first scene in the Fiji Mission. The work has begun at two important centres. Two men, single-handed, are battling with almost incredible difficulties, but cheered with some success. The leaven of truth has been introduced, and already shows itself; but the opposition becomes more obstinate, and the mass of the people seem to be growing more debased and devilish than ever. The two Mission- aries long for help, and at last it comes.

As the Mission in Fiji had been an offshoot from that at the Friend- ly Islands, the men who laboured in the latter District felt that the interests of the new work, to which two of their number had so nobly devoted themselves, were committed to them. They saw that many more Missionaries would be required at once, and therefore directed the Rev. James Watkin to draw up an Appeal on behalf of Fiji, which the Missionary Committee in England published in the "Notices," and in the "Quarterly Paper." In some prefatory remarks, the Committee say with reference to the Appeal: — " Some of its statements may per- haps be deemed almost too horrible for publicity ; but we can assure those who are inclined to adopt that opinion, that we have omitted sev- eral disgusting particulars, included in the original communication, and that neither the whole, nor the worst, is even here told in detail. But as such abominations do exist, we think it would be a criminal delicacy that would withhold the substance of these recitals from the public view." Then followed that stirring and earnest Appeal which many will re- member well, and which, under God, had so much to do with the suc- cess of the Fiji Mission. After setting forth in the most forcible way the horrors of Fijian cruelty, and the sufferings which the people en- dured, and proving that nothing but the Gospel could meet their case, more Missionaries are asked ; and the Appeal closes with the following glowing sentences of simple earnestness, which still have power as ap- plied to the whole Missionary work.

"But some may think that the Fijians are not yet ready for the Gospel. Brethren, they will never be ready for it, in your sense of the expression, unless it be sent to them.