Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/397

 EEWA. 367 Ngata spent the evening ^Yith them. Mr. Moore conversed freely with him. He then begged to be visited on the following Sabbath, when he and some of his principal people would begin to worship God. Thus the detention at Nakelo for the night was the means of bringing about this satisfactory and most desirable result, removing the only cause of remaining anxiety between Rewa and Mbau. Mr. Moore went, accord- ing to appointment, when he found the Chief and several others dressed ready for worship. Ra Ngata afterwards told Mr. Calvert that when his brother and people, who were captured at Kamba, were spared and returned home at once, lotu and supplied with dresses, it quite overcame all his prejudices against the Vunivalu, Mbau, and the lottt, — he felt thoroughly ashamed, and then resolved to submit to the Chief and to the Lord. That act told much upon his mind, being far more powerful in convincing him of the real influence and excellence of Christianity than many sermons or conversations. Ra Ngata, not having seen the Vunivalu since the war, went from Nakelo very early on the morning of the 15th to have an interview ; but King George's usual despatch had caused the fleet to move off earlier than is customary in Fiji, so that Ra Ngata had well nigh been too late with his provision of sweet pud- dings and taro for the Vunivalu, whose canoe was being propelled down the river on his arrival. Ra Ngata, though a heavy man, walked nimbly with a light step that morning, exulting in the peace which was established, and, having sent the food by a small canoe, ran with Mr. Calvert along the bank of the river in order to get a word with the Vunivalu. Both were pleased to see each other, and, one from the canoe and the other from the bank, exchanged friendly words. The Vunivalu said cheerfully, " Good bye, Ra Ngata : we are ofl* to Kanda- Yu. Mr. Calvert, teach him about religion, and tell him to attend to it." at Nakelo. Necessity only induced us to remain. The Chief and lady were kind ; but we have had proof of Fijian friendship, so as to lead us not to trust any, especially a man like Ea Ngata, and such real Heathens and cannibals as the Nakelo people. It was with strange feelings I made the necessary arrangements for the night. What I would have given for a light I cannot tell you. We were obliged to sit in darkness, which made our situation more dreary. The Lord protected. We left the Chief with a promise that he and his lady would lotu shortly ; so that we trust some good end was answered by our detention. I was scarcely able to go again to the canoe, (having caught a severe cold by sleeping in an uninhabited house and on a poor make-shift of a bed,) and suffered much from pain in my limbs, especially in one leg, which I was not able to put to the ground without a great deal of pain for several days. You will, I know, wonder how I felt, on arriving again at a place which had caused us so much trouble and sorrow. A sight of the old spot brought vividly to my recollection all the confusion and horrors of that awful night, and a re- membrance of that place in which we were once so comfortable, but from which we were glad, even at a short notice, to make our escape from the devouring element to a native hovel, and were at the mercy of those who, no doubt, but for an overruling Providence, would have taken our lives for a little paltry gain. I feel pretty comfortable in the day, but at night I get so ner- voiLS that it is often quite morning before I can get any rest."