Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/366

 336 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. In April, Mr. Cargill had a severe attack of inflammation, became delirious, and seemed about to die. But God blessed the slender medical means which were at command, and the Missionary recovered. One day, during his illness, a great uproar was heard across the water, and hundreds of people were seen running out of the town, and crossing the river, some in canoes, and some by swimming, armed with clubs, spears, and muskets, all savage and excited. On inquiry it was found that the mbaii, the Kmg's warriors from the various towns, who were assembled to be feasted by the Rewa Chiefs, had quarrelled among themselves. On former occasions the numerous companies of these defenders of Rewa had been fed separately : on this occasion provision had been made on a large scale, in order to show respect to all the soldiers on one day. A dispute arose as to the place assumed by one party. Neither would yield. Clubs were to decide. The Rewa Chiefs had taken the precaution of being ready to quell any outbreak, and at once fired upon the disturbing parties. The most guilty found their quarters too hot for them, and hastened away, the Rewa people firing on them without any care, so that some of the balls fell on the Missidh premises, which was an additional cause of alarm and excite- ment, especially when the principal Missionary was lying so ill. Poor Mrs. Cargill feared for the children, and placed one behind a chest of drawers filled with clothes, and the others behind the large posts of the house, to shelter them from the balls. Things remained in an un- settled state, and a watch had to be kept nightly ; but the matter was at last set right, though not until several lives had been sacrificed. Printing, and the whole of the regular Mission work, was inter- rupted for a time by the labour necessary in repairing the injuries done by the late storm. The large house had to be rebuilt, and Mr. Cargill and his family sought shelter in a temporary dwelling erected by the Tongans. The natives had now a better chance of indulging their thievish habits, as the stores had to be packed away, for a time, in the houses of the Tongans ; and many things were stolen. In the mean while, among all these trials, the Missionaries and Teachers had constant intercourse with the Chiefs and people, who learned much from casual instruction, as well as from the manner of life and patient continuance in well-doing which were daily exhibited. Much of that preparatory work which has to be done among such dark barbarians, was efiected. Trials did not discourage ; but many things cheered and stimulated to prayer, preaching, and visiting. In May, a Rewa Chief of rank publicly, in spite of the opposition of many, avowed himself a believer in Christianity, and abandoned his usual