Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/317

 LAKEMBA. 287 Midway between Lakemba and Vanuambalavu stands the small isl- and of Tuvufha, where the Christian Teachers often put in for the night on their journeys to and fro. Their exhortations on these visits at last took effect, and the Chief, with several of his people, gave up Heathenism. On hearing of this, Mr. Calvert at once set out to visit Tuvutha, intending to return next day ; but a change of wind pre- vented this, so that he went forward to Vanuambalavu, where he bap- tized eight persons and preached, and talked with many of the people, being much cheered to find how firmly the cause of Christianity was already set in this important island. ' At Lomaloma, he heard that an American had just been murdered at Yaro by the husband of a woman with whom he had been overheard talking too freely. Being anxious to know whether the slain man was eaten, and wishing to converse with the people, Mr. Calvert went to Yaro, and found that the body had been thrown into a cave, where he gave it Christian burial. The voyage home was dangerous and protracted, so that the trip occupied twenty-one days altogether, instead of two, as was at first ex- pected. This was a time of weary suspense at the. Mission-house ; for the canoe in which the Missionary sailed was known to be very frail, and the navigation dangerous. The wind was still contrary and baffling ; and, in attempting to reach Lakemba from Nayau, the canoe was headed off*. A Fijian Christian on board, not knowing that Mr. Calvert miderstood Tongan, began talking to the Tongan sailors in their own language, urging them to put back. As soon as he had persuaded them, he said, " I think. Sir, we had better return." " If you think so, by all means let us return," quickly answered the Missionary, and the canoe was at once ordered about. After sailing some time on the back- ward course, the Fijian remarked, " Ay ! we have gone a long way : we are still far from Nayau." Thereupon he got a little admonition on the folly of losing so much way as they had made, and seemed greatly chagrined, keeping silent until they reached Nayau, when, after they had anchored, the wind blew most furiously, and his face brightened up as he exclaimed : "Ay ! it was not my tongue that spoke ; but it was the Lord that spoke by my mouth, and brought us back again ; so we are spared." All were thankful ; for the canoe, though the best that could be obtained that voyage, was not strong. Indeed, three days after her return to Lakemba, she was wrecked, while sailing to another island in a much less wind than that which blew at Nayau. The number of converts continued to increase at Lomaloma, and among them were several young Chiefs ; and, at length, the wife of