Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/273

 SOMOSOMO. 243 " The inhabitants of Somosomo are proverbial, even in Fiji, for their depraved habits, and especially for their cannibalism : and all that we have seen of them during the past year, fully warrants the opinion which their neighbours have formed of them, and shows that they are right in considering them to be the vilest of the vile. But though we have had to enter a field altogether uncultivated, and to sow the precious seed in a soil most unfriendly to its growth, the Lord has verified His own promise. His word has not * returned unto him void,' but it has in some measure ' accomplished that which he pleases, and prospered in the thing whereunto He has sent it.' " Hundreds, from all parts of the dominions of Tuithakau, have heard the Gospel, while visiting this place to trade, etc. Many of them have manifested great interest in the things they have heard, and have taken the good news to their different towns and islands. " The general feeling of the people at present is good. They only wait for their Chiefs to lead the way, and then many of them would at once embrace the truth. We preach to them every day, and sometimes many times a day to the strangers who come out of curiosity to see our dwelling-house. Until lately, the King's son, (Tuikilakila,) who is the real sovereign of this place, has maintained a determined opposition to Chris- tianity. He has, indeed, allowed us to preach and teach the people ; but he thought it would be in vain, as he had expressed his determination to kill the first poor man who should profess our religion. " But the Lord took care for this also ; for it so happened, that the first person who renounced Heathenism, and publicly worshipped the true God, was the King's brother, a great Chief, and the nearest relation of Tuikilakila, except his father. He was recom- mended to embrace Christianity by the King himself, in order that his life might be pro- longed by the power and love of the true God, and the spiritual and temporal medicine administered by His servants. A few days afterwards, another Chief of high rank fol- lowed the example of the King's brother, no doubt for the same reason, and soon after another man of some respectability ; and about the same time a poor girl, whom we delivered from the murderous hands of a Chief, who was about to strangle her because she was ill. " The great reason why these people are disposed to receive Christianity is, that they may possess bodily health. However, we are thankful for this beginning, feeble as it is ; and uncertain as it may seem, that those who embrace our holy religion in order to be restored to health will continue to serve the Lord when that object is accomplished, yet even by such a beginning the way is open for many to receive instructions, who were before afraid, because all the powerful Chiefs were Heathens. " This commencement of our work has been much favoured by the restoration of our servant-man from the brink of the grave. He was very ill for a long time. All pronounced him past hope of recovery, and the King desired to have him buried ! But the Lord blessed English medicine and English nursing, and restored him to perfect health. This had a good eflfect on the minds of the people, and we trust it will be a last- ing blessing. " We have at present twenty-one professing Christians on this Station, twelve of whom meet in Class. We have had from thirty to forty in our school at different times ; but having no regular place of worship, their attendance at school, and our attention to them, have been irregular. The King has promised to build us a chapel, and he appears to be sincere. We believe the time is come for an enlargement of our borders, and an extension of our exertions. The fields are whitening for the harvest : — we pray the Lord of the harvest to thrust us forth, and make us unceasingly devoted and successful labourers. At present we can only report a day of small and feeble things. But who hath despised it ? We know of whom it is said, ' A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory ; and in him shall the Gentiles trust.' " /