Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/369

 EEWA. 339 Christianity and his attempt to kill the Missionaries; so he came, greatly humbled, to the Station, and sought a dyelling among the Tongans, where he might have proper treatment, receiving daily sup- plies of food from his own friends. He feared that he was going to die ; and, being removed from his former companions, and brought entirely under Christian influence, and attending constantly at family worship, the heart of the cruel persecutor became softened, and he spoke with genuine contrition of all his past evil, inquiring eagerly for the way of salvation. Being urged to pray to God for mercy, he asked to be taught words fit for prayer, saying, " Great is my desire to pray to God; but I know not what words to take up." He was encouraged to tell simply all he felt to that good and all-knowing God, who would mercifully help him, if he was sincere. Hearing of a poor man named Savea, who, having been cured of a loathsome disease, had become Christian, Matanambamba sought an interview with him, in- quiring with great interest about his case. Savea said, '*' I was friend- less, forsaken, destitute, and treated as a dog ; but I fled to the servants of God, swallowed much medicme, and trusted in the Lord. When I lay only, I used to pray. "When it was night I prayed. When morn- ing came I prayed ; and by doing this I got well." Matanambamba was pleased with this simple testimony ; and though Savea was a com- mon person, with whom once he would have scorned to associate, yet now he said to him, " From this time let you and me be friends." God made the medicine successful, and the Chief recovered. He prayed very earnestly for mercy, confessing that he had been " a blas- phemer, and a persecutor, and injurious," a chief sinner, even among the Fijians. In this state he was led to put faith in the atonement of Christ, and received the remission of his sins. He read the Scriptures with great diligence, and talked freely to all who came near him about the excellence of religion. He also learned to write well, his hand- writing being very like that of the Missionary who taught him. So entire a change m his character secured the confidence even of the slay- ers of his father ; so that he was invited to return to Mbau. He went ; but the evil influences to which he there became subject, after a while damaged his religious character. He was again afflicted with repeated attacks of illness, and removed eventually to the small island of Viwa, where he married a very good woman, and has since lived in the enjoy- ment of much of his first earnestness and faith. One day a Missionary remarked to the good Tongan, Joshua, that he thought this Cliief showed less of the work of God's grace than another whom he mentioned. " No, no," replied Joshua, " Eatu Luke " (such was Matanambamba's