Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/350

 320 FIJI AlO) THE njIANS. allowed to land without molestation, and to enter the town of Levuka. He gave orders that his armj should presently follow him; but in this he was disappointed. As they were attempting to land, a Tongan Chief stepped forward, and ordered them back to their canoes at the peril of their lives. This threat was suflBcient ; a fear from God fell upon them, and thej did not make a second attempt, but remained in their canoes all night ; the beach being strongly guarded, in the meantime, by armed parties of Tongans and Fijians. At first fighting appeared inevitable. The Chief was very angry ; but at length his eyes were opened to see his pitiful position, (separated as he was from his men,) he was glad to submit, and beg for his life, and his heathen friends are glad to be allowed to depart in peace. After two days the Chief himself left the land, chagrined and disappointed. Since then three months have rolled over. Baffled and unable to gain assistance from Mbau, he finds his only resort now is, to submit to the evils he has brought upon himself. "Whatever grievances he had to complain of, (and they were less than he had given just cause to expect,) he has certainly been dealt with throughout with great forbearance and kindness. In all these events the hand of the Lord has evi- dently overruled, and the pacific disposition of Mbau towards this place, when all looked for trouble and war, has tended greatly to confirm the King and his friends in the pro- fession of faith in the true God. It is the 'Lord's doing,' and to Him be the glory. The seeing God's hand in these events greatly confirms our own faith amidst the trials and difficulties we have to contend with. All these things make our path rough and our work difficult ; but the consideration that the * Lord our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles,' is very encouraging. " Since entering on the work of this Circuit, in October last, I have made two voy- ages to the neighbouring islands that occupied about a month. We have divided the islands into Circuits, with our most experienced Native Teachers for their Superintend- ents, who are to visit all the places under their pastoral care every quarter, in order to meet the Classes, etc. This arrangement will tend greatly to strengthen the hands of our Teachers and people in places seldom visited. The most that we can hope to do in this extensive Circuit is, to visit each distant place once a year ; and often then our stay must be necessarily short. We believe the plan adopted will prove a great blessing, and render our own occasional visits much more serviceable. Our Institution for training young men is in active operation. We have an excellent house in which they are met by myself and colleague three times a week, for instructions in reading, writing, and Christian theology. These young men, numbering between ten and twenty, are pious and devoted, ardent in their desire to be instructed and become useful, — the hope of our churches in Fiji." At the same time Mr. Malvern wrote : — " Our children's school, which before averaged about twenty in number, has in- creased to upwards of a hundred. Several of these, who are under the care of our wives, have lately been deeply concerned about their souls ; and some of them say they are made very happy, and that ' Jesus is very precious to them.' The Papists tried every manoeuvre to gain the King ; but in vain. They are now using every means in their power to win him over to them, or turn him back to Heathenism. The Lord rebuke them ! Glory be to His name. He has done so ! Every attempt they make to propagate their system turns against them. Because they cannot succeed, they have tried what efi"ect intimidation would have ; but it is all fruitless. They have told the people, that a French man-of-war will soon be here, and then they shall be punished for rejecting the Roman religion ; and that the whole of their books, including the Bible, (their great enemy,) shall be collected together and burned. They, however, generally find us at hand, to correct any unfavourable impression they may make ; and, by the blessing ot God, every thing they say and do is rendered futile. The Gospel of Christ, iu defiance of every ob.stacle, continues to triumph gloriously in these dark places of the earth. The