Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/394

 364 FIJI AOT) THE FIJIAifS. their former escape and sufferiDg. A larger house was in progress, and the Missionaries at the various Stations contributed of their own stores and furniture, to replace something of their brother's and sister's loss. This loss had been very heavy, and that, too, on a Station of peculiar hardship and difficulty, where the Missionary and his family needed every possible mitigation of their suffering. It was hoped that in the Australasian colonies and in England Mr. Moore's case would have excited active sympathy, leading to relief; but this hope has not been realized to any extent. Before King George left Fiji, he accompanied Thakombau on a visit to Eewa and Kandavu. The following account of this visit was com- municated to the General Secretaries by Mr. Calvert : — " On the 11th of May, King George and all his party, accompanied by the Yunivalu in his own canoe, left Mbau for Rewa and Kandavu. At Mr. Moore's request, I went to Rewa with them, sailing in George's new large canoe, — perhaps the largest in the world, — which had been presented to him by the Yunivalu. There were about a hun- dred and forty persons on board. We went up the river. King George superintended all the movements, and worked himself at everything, keeping all actively in motion. He is certainly an extraordinary man. " At Mburetu we stayed a short time for food, which waited our arrival. The Yuni- valu went on shore to the Chiefs house. The Chiefs again presented whales' teeth, beg- ging that past offences might be forgiven ; and were well received. The Yunivalu had for years been much chagrined for having been shot at when on a peaceful visit to this place. I had the satisfaction to see him shake hands with the two principal men. He desired them all to become Christians, and asked me to address them. We returned on board, and proceeded up the river until we came opposite Xakelo, where we anchored for the nigbt. The King himself provided me a comfortable place for the night on the canoe ; and he gave out a verse and prayed. Early the following morning I visited the town of Nakelo. Some food was brought to the canoes ; and an immense heap, which had been piled ready for us at a distance from the river up which we passed, was fetched by parties from each canoe. The canal through which we passed, cut by a former King of Rewa, was shallow ; but at high water, the tide making the whole length of the river, it was sufficiently deep for the largest canoes. In times of war this canal is closed by a fence made of large trees. The old King of Nakelo came on board the Yunivalu's canoe, and went with us to Rewa. On our way they took ou board the various canoes a pile of many thousands of sticks of sugar-cane, which had been brought by the people of Toka- toka to the river side ; also several cooked pigs, and other food. Forty large canoes, with long streamers from the mast-head, being propelled up the river, was a rare sight. This river, with its various branches, will answer well, when this extensive and fertile district shall be properly cultivated, for the conveyance of produce to vessels from the colonies. War being ended, and Christianity established, I doubt not but the industry of these natives will be encouraged to supply pigs, yams, timber, tobacco, coffee, cotton, cocoa-nut oil, and other articles, for the colonial maz'kets. Hitherto there have been but short seasons of peace between Nakelo and Tokatoka. We had Chiefs from both dis- tricts on board the Yunivalu's canoe, they being again on friendly terms, and very com- fortable together. " We spent the Sabbath at Rewa. The Tongans held their services in the two large houses which they occupied ; and we assembled in the open air with the Yunivalu and the Rewa people, on a spot saci-ed in the past days of Heathenism. The sight was most