Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/358

 328 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. place in the presence of a large and serious congregation. After a stay of three weeks, in which he attended the examination of the schools and rejoiced in the general prosperity of the Mission, Mr. Calvert returned to the Leeward Islands, accompanied by several Teachers. Twice on the journey home the Missionary's life was in great peril : once he was nearly struck overboard by the boom in jibbing ; and afterwards, while staying for the night at Ovalau, savage men lurked about the house, waiting an opportunity to shoot him. He was, however, mercifully taken back in safety. A letter from the Schoolmaster, Mr. Collis, to the General Secreta- ries, dated October 4th, 1854, gives a good idea of the character and success of his branch of the work : — " There is before me an extensive field of usefulness in the various islands belonging to the Lakemba Circuit, which I am endeavouring to occupy, as far as practicable, by my own personal labours, or through the medium of the Native Teachers, whom I have the opportunity of seeing at certain times, either here or at their own Stations. By this means, though limited and imperfect at present, I have the gratification of witnessing and hearing of results which are truly encouraging. In some of the places I have visited, I have been pleased in observing very fair imitations of my plan of school-management : which fact is the more pleasing, when it is remembered that the Teachers have not had the advantage of being trained for this work, but merely superintend it in connexion with their pastoral duties. " In the school which is under my care, there are tokens of good ; a growing inter- est is manifest, and a great desire for knowledge, scripture knowledge especially, which is sought after with a sort of eager ambition to excel in understanding the word of God. This pleasing trait is more particularly visible in the conduct of most of the girls, many of whom have, for some time, been members of Society. The children from the adjacent towns, about one hundred and twenty in number, I meet three days in the week, instruct- ing them in Scripture knowledge, reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, geography, and natural history. Singing, too, forms a part of our regular exercises. The childrerf are, many of them, much attached to the school. " In the Sabbath schools the attendance is very good, nearly all the children being regularly present. On Wednesday in each week I have a school numbering nearly a hundred, composed of the older boys and young men from all the other towns on the island. Such is the desire of many of these to be instructed, that they do not hesitate to come six or seven miles every week, regardless of wind and weather. Many of them, I have reason to believe, are truly converted to God Two of them have just been taken by Mr. Calvert to the neighbourhood of Mbau, where Teachers and other helpers are now much needed. The Native Teachers, also, who are already appointed to Sta- tions on this island, as well as young men who are designed for this office, have their share of my time and attention. " The girls belonging to my school, in addition to what they are taught by me, are met by Mrs. Collis twice in the week for further religious instruction. They also learn to sew, knit, etc. The benefit of such knowledge of useful matters they have, to some extent, experienced, and have learned to appreciate it accordingly. The elder girls from all the more distant towns on the island avail themselves of a weekly meeting for instruc- tion in the same things." In September, 1854, Mr. Lyth left Lakemba in consequence of illness through over-exertion, as well as in consideration of the claims of his