Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/443

 YIWA AND MBATJ. 411 have killed a great many of the allies of Rewa ; but the latter is far from being con- quered. " Besides, the war between Mbau and Rewa, the Lasakau people, who constitute a part of Mbau, are at war among themselves. Indeed, things in this part of the group, politically speaking, wear a gloomy aspect, and some great revolution is expected by many. The war between Rewa and Mbau has prevented us from having any intercourse with our dear friends at Rewa ; for, although we are neutral parties, we cannot obtain persons to work our canoes in time of war, especially in one like this, in which all parties are involved. It is not an affair that aflfects one district only, as is often the case : all are engaged in it ; and even the white men living in Rewa have assisted the natives, so that they are afraid to go backwards and forwards. " The Viwa people have not been much involved in the war, which is cause of thank- fulness. Some have been occasionally obliged to go ; others have risked much rather than go. It is a difficult affair with some of them. They have a great objection to en- gage in that in which they formerly delighted ; yet, if they refuse to go when requested, it is considered rebellion against their Chiefs. Namosimalua has not, to my knowledge, forced any of them to go : those who are directly connected with him have joined him, as have some others who felt it their duty to do so. " I shall now give a few extracts from my journal, which may be interesting to you, and show how my time has been employed. " Oct. 8th, 1843. — My regular work is now as much as I can possibly get through. I have generally four or five services on the Sabbath, of one kind or other. On the week-day I have an English school in the forenoon, a writing-school directly after dinner, and then the regular native school at four o'clock. Attending to the sick takes up nearly every moment of my spare time. What writing I do, is done during the English school- hours. I have five coloured boys, four of them from Levuka, one man, and a native boy, learning English ; and they are getting on very well. The boys from Levuka will be useful as monitors, should a Missionary be stationed there next year. " Dec. 21st. — Last Sunday I visited Ovalau, preached three times on the Sabbath, and met the Classes. We called at Ngavo, a town on the opposite side of Ovalau, where a Catechist has been doing a little for some time. A short time since, I sent a young man from the Native Institution to his assistance, and a few young men have since re- nounced Heathenism. We had a good wind, and reached home in safety. Captain Clay- ton, lately from New Zealand, accompanied me to Yiwa. He went to Mbau the next day, to ascertain the minds of the Chiefs as to the appointment of a British Consul to the Fiji Islands. Thakombau was pleased with the proposal, and signed in my presence a written request to the Queen of Great Britain, to appoint Captain Clayton to the office. " 25th. — Christmas-day. I gave notice to the boys that it was the custom in Eng- land to sing on a Christmas-day morning. Yery early in the morning we heard a whole choir of them strike up under our window, which reminded us much of our dear friends at home, as well as of by-gone days. The boys went through the town, singing at every house, except those in which there were no Christians. They had no Christmas carol ; but a translation of a part of the first hymn in our Hymn-Book answered well. to us. We have not made any thing like suitable returns. Lord, be merciful to us, and continue to bless us, through Jesus alone ! Certainly time is not heavy on our hands. It does indeed fly. We might easily work ourselves to death, by doing only what ap- pears absolutely necessary ; so that out of many things requisite to be done, we are obliged to attend to those which appear to be indispensable. for more of the spirit of Mr. Wesley ! he did indeed redeem the time. I find it difficult so to give my heart to God, as not to feel anxious. I know that loving Him with all the heart is the perfect cure of all anxiety ; except a strong desire, amounting to something like anxiety, to do His will and save souls from death. Anxiety to do our duty is right ; anxiety about providential events is wrong. 27
 * ' Jan. 1st, 1844. — We have closed another year of mercies. It has indeed been such