Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/290

 260 FIJI AJ^TD THE FIJIAJS^S. married to her with religious form. Eleven other couples were united, and two persons baptized. Going on to Ono, Mr. Calvert baptized 233 persons, and married 6Q couples. Many gave clear evidence that they had been already baptized by the Holy Ghost, and were leading blameless lives. The work which had been accomplished was wonder- ful and cheering. Among the Christians the Sabbath was strictly observed, and the schools, and various religious services regularly attended. Several young men offered themselves as Teachers, to go, after due training, to preach the Xjospel in other parts of Fiji. But all this had not come to pass without rousing the alarm and ill-will of the heathen part of the inhabitants, who had all along per- secuted and annoyed the loiu people ; and now, seeing that the new religion was growing so fast, and taking such firm root, they proceeded to more open acts of opposition, and it was feared that there would be a fight before the Missionary left the island. One of the converts, on becoming married to one woman only, had discarded a former wife who was related to a Heathen of great self importance, and who took up the matter as a serious offence. Mr. Calvert, however, succeeded in making matters smooth before an actual rupture took place. The change accomplished in these Ono Christians was not one merely of profession, but genuine and thorough.. Many were fully reclaimed from their past bad habits, and rejoiced continually in God, showing the greatest interest in the spread of the Gospel, according to the teaching of which they tried to shape their lives. Among the candidates for baptism at Ono was a young lady named Tovo, of the highest rank in the island, who had become truly con- verted. She could read well, was very active in teaching, both at the school and in private, and showed great diligence in visiting the sick, and doing all manner of good. According to custom, she had been betrothed in infancy, and her future husband was the old heathen King of Lakemba. This was well known, and Mr. Calvert refused to baptize the girl unless she resolved that, at any cost, she would refuse to become one of the thirty wives of Tui Nayau. Tovo declared her firm purpose to die rather than fulfil her heathen betrothal. The old Chief her father, and all the Christians, resolved to suffer anything rather than give her up. When this was made quite clear, the girl was baptized, taking the name of Jemima. After an absence of twenty-two days, Mr. Calvert got safely back to Lakemba, rejoicing greatly in what he had seen at Ono. He imme- diately informed the King of Tovo's baptism, and showed him that she could not now become one of his many wives. But the Heathens at