Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/375

 EEWA. 345 give me up. I love you, the people of Nakasaleka, and am willing to die that you may live." A companion of the Chief insisted upon ac- companying himj that they might die together ; and the two set out with the Rewan ambassador, dressed and ornamented with whales' teeth, while the mother and other relatives followed some distance on the way. On reaching the shore the two sat down. The Chiefs of Rewa were assembled, and the oven was being prepared, when Ratu Nggara demanded of the Nakasaleka Chief whether he was guilty of the offence with which he had been charged. He denied it. " Well," said the other, " I will eat you," and immediately ordered some young men to club the Chief, and, when they had cooked him, to bring some of his liver for Ratu Nggara to eat. They, however, feared to approach their victim, as he was a powerful man, and still held his club. But he cried to them not to fear, and threw his club away. He afterwards took some whales' teeth from the folds of his dress, and threw towards them ; unloosed his necklace, and gave it into their hands ; and then bowed his head to the fatal blow. His companion was next killed ; and both of them were cooked and eaten. The woman about whom all the mischief had been done, was taken to Rewa, when it was discovered that the report of her unfaithfulness had been raised by a party who had a quar- rel with the Nakasaleka people, and were not able by themselves to punish them. This discovery, however, did not prevent Ratu Nggara from carrying out his tyrannical plans on Kandavu ; for one of the Teachers from that island, who was on a visit to Rewa, was forbidden to return, and orders were sent from the Chief that the other Teacher must come away at once if he cared for his life. The King had sanctioned the sending of Teachers in the jEirst instance, and the case was now sub- mitted to him. He thought it better to remove them, and it was evident that danger was at hand. The Christians at Kandavu were compelled by threats to give up their profession of religion, and the remaining Teacher was glad to avail himself of the canoe sent by the Missionaries to fetch him away. Thus the pleasing prospect of success Avhich seemed to open on this island was closed in darkness, and the Mission there abandoned for a time. Other most painful trials and discouragements fell upon the Mission- ary. A Chief, who was a thorough and devout Christian, when near death and unable to act for himself, was removed by his heathen rela- tives, who made offerings on his behalf to their gods, and then strangled his mother, to be buried with him. Poor creatures were buried alive, and bodies were frequently brought to Rewa for cannibal purposes, where, just opposite the Mission premises, they were dragged, washed,