Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/299

 0X0. 269 wish to become a Cliristian, which I shall do before long ; and, when I do, I shall abandon all my old ways. Fijians will be in earnest, when they embrace religion." There was one very important point, on which the effect of Chris- tianity had not yet been seen among the new conTerts. With much jealousy and misgiving, the heathen Chiefs had watched great changes brought about by the lotu. Old institutions had been utterly disre- garded, and even polygamy denounced as unlawful. But constant domestic brawls had often suggested doubts as to the blessings of polyg- amy, and the Mbau Chief, long before he became a Christian, replied to a man who said, " Sir, Christianity is an evil. It requires us to give up all our wives but one." — " Nay, that is right : it is as God intended it ; and that will not be a difficulty to our becoming Christian." The firm standing to their principles by the Ono Christians had proved that their religion was no mere profession, but was ready, if necessary, to resist even the King's command, if obedience was contrary to the law of God. Most anxiously, therefore, the Chiefs regarded the momentous question of tribute, and watched uneasily the effect of the lotu in this particular. With the Christians themselves this was also a difficulty. Hitherto they had been under club-law, by which a Chief could go and demand anything belonging to the common people. By this system all industry was discouraged, and the people had no inducement to rise from their poverty into a position which would only expose them to the tyrannical exactions of their superiors. The Chiefs themselves suffered loss from this state of affairs ; for their supplies were precarious and scanty. Another great difficulty was found in the fact that the people, Aough they were never so willing to pay tribute, did not know exactly to whom it was rightly due ; for any one of slight importance could go and claim the produce of his poorer neighbour's sty or garden. A clearly defined system of rights was greatly needed. But to this many, especially of th^ petty Chiefs, demurred. If things came to be put on their right footing, they felt that some of their claims would be disal- lowed altogether, while the injustice of their former impositions would be declared in the face of all. All these things beset the path of the Missionaries in their effort to teach and raise the people. From the first, they had strictly enjoined the necessity of subjection to those who were in authority ; and that the people should diligently provide and cheerfully render tribute in property, and willingly obey their Chiefs in all reasonable labour and service. All parties were, therefore, watching with great interest the effect of Christianity on the temporal condition of every class of the people. Ono was the only place of importance