Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/269

 SOMOSOMO. 239 teach without the consent of more influential Chiefs. If you come to see us, we will allow our children to be taught to read on your first arrival ; and we will listen to your doctrine, to know if it be true or false, beneficial or useless." The King's eldest son, on one occasion, occupied Mr. Cargill's attention for two hours, proposing questions about the nature and design of Christianity. When asked if he believed the statements to be true, Tuikilakila replied, '•' True ! Every- thing that comes from the white man's country is true : muskets and gunpowder are true, and your religion must be true." The earnestness shown by these Somosomans to have a Missionary was certainly not of the most encouraging kind : but there were many things which made it seem right to comply with their wish. The King's territories were very extensive. The two sons Avere not only of high rank on their father's side, but their mother was a Mbau lady of highest family, which made them Vasus to all the Chiefs and dominions of Mbau. In addition to the influence thus acquired, they were desperate characters, and universally feared. Hence it was resolved that Mis- sionaries should be sent to Somosomo, and the King went home with a promise to that eflTect, to be fulfilled as soon as a supply should reach Fiji from England. Li July, 1839, Mr. Hunt was removed from Eewa, and, accompa- nied by Mr. Lyth, went to Somosomo. Here the Missionaries found all the horrors of a Eijian life in an unmixed and unmodified form ; for even in the other islands Somosomo was spoken of as a place of dread- ful cannibalism. Urgently and ingeniously had the King and his people pleaded for Missionaries ; yet now they had come, no one welcomed, but every one regarded them with the greatest indifference. The old King's great house was given up for the use of the two families, but beyond this no one seemed to notice them. This was very trying ; but severer trouble awaited them. When they arrived, they found the people expecting the return of Ra Mbithi, the King's youngest son, who had gone with a jleet of canoes to the windward islands. After the Missionaries had got all their goods landed, and before the vessel in which they came had left, tidings reached Somosomo that Ra Mbithi had been lost at sea. The ill news caused terrible excitement in the tOAvn, and, according to custom, several women were at once set apart to be strangled. The ^Missionaries began their work by pleading for the lives of these wretched victims. The utmost they could eff*ect was to get the execution delayed until the schooner should have gone to search for the young Chief, and bring back further information. The vessel returned, but not with any more favourable news. Now a