Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/265

 BEGDSnnNGS — LAKEMBA AKD EEWA. 235 more attention could now be given to Eewa, and the towns surround- ing it, as well as to the island of Viwa. Already fruits were being gathered in the Mission. By many natives the temples, gods, and priests were altogether abandoned, and some betook themselves to earnest prayer to the true God, showing the sincerest penitence, and entering fully into the joys of God's salvation. At Rewa and Viwa, one hundred and forty openly avowed themselves as worshippers of Jehovah. A brother of the King encouraged the people to pelt the Christians while at worship, and one night caused their houses to be plundered. Mr. Hunt writes, — " We expected to have our turn next. Mrs. Hunt and I were not very comfortable, especially about midnight, when the death-like stillness of the town was broken by the firing of a musket. We thought, ' Surely this is the signal for the attack,' and expected nothing less than to have our houses plundered. Mr. Cross slept comfortably enough. He was the old veteran who had stood the shock of many a battle; we were the raw recruits just introduced into the field, and consequently we felt the timidity which most experience on the first charge. The Chief never came near us ; and the King called a meeting of Chiefs shortly after, which was the means of checking the persecution for a time. Our people stood firm during these trials, and were enabled to 'take joyfully the spoiling of their goods,' affectingly referring to their better and more enduring sub- stance Shortly after a number of the Yiwa people had embraced Christianity, a man of some note sent a message to the King of Mbau, to allow him to kill Xamosimalua. Instead of complying with his request, the King sent to Is amosimalua to inform him of what had taken place, advising him to kill the traitor, and the whole of his relatives. He replied, * No, it is not consistent with the laws of Christianity to punish the innocent with the guilty.' The traitor himself was spared, when he sued for mercy. This is the more remarkable, as Namosimalua had been noted for killing his own people for trifling offences, and often for none at all, but merely because he suspected them. The man whom he thus generously pardoned is now a member of the Church." The Mission, though small, had now got a firm footing in the very heart of Fiji. Many of the Mbau people frequently visited Rewa, and made earnest inquiry concerning the lotu. Once a fortnight the Missionaries visited Viwa, calling when possible on Tanoa and the Mbau Chiefs on the way. But the light of the Gospel as yet spread over a very small circle of Fiji, and the circumference seemed formed of an almost impenetrable darkness. Scenes too horrible to be described, too full of fiendish cruelty to be imagined by any who had not witnessed them, were constantly taking place within a short distance of the Missionaries ; while every vice was committed, and every form of suffering endured, by the people among whom they lived. Cannibalism soon lost its dreadful novelty, and began to be regarded as a matter of course. Yet, the great converting work was going on, and the servants of God, in all their toil and danger, knew that they had kindled in Fiji a brightness which should never be put out ; and 16