Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/444

 412 FIJI AKD THE FIJIAKS. " 15th, — A day or two ago several Tokatoka men, a town belonging to Rewa, were killed bv a party of Mbau warriors, from a town called Namata. Among other advan- tages gained by the Mbau party is the death of the Chief of Tonga, a town belonging to Rewa. He had gone to Nakase to engage the people to join Rewa. The Nakase people were assembled in the market-place to oflfer their services, according to Fijian custom,* " "While an affair of this kind was going on at Xakase, the Naitasiri people, a small kingdom in the interior of Xa Viti Levu, who are the determined enemies of Rewa and allies of Mbau, entered the town without being observed. Their bodies and faces being covered with soot and vermilion, they were not known, and proceeded to the market- place to join the Xakase warriors. One of them ran up to the Chief of Tonga, with his club raised ; and, instead of striking the ground with it, took a fatal blow at the head of the Chief, and laid him dead at his feet. The confusion in the town may be imagined. Those of the people and warriors who could, fled; but several were killed. The Fijians are very clever at a thing of this kind. Indeed, most of the conquests are gained in this way." The progress of the Mission "vras now steady, and gave encourage- ment to Mr. Hunt, whose untiring and judicious exertions met with success, not only in Viwa itself, but in other islands near. The power of the Christian life was beginning to be felt more widely, and the people were getting ashamed of their evil practices. Many were kept from uniting themselves with the Church, by the strict prohibition of polygamy and adultery. The administration of the sacraments, too, was always attended ^vith singular good. While Mr. Hunt was pro- nouncing the solemn form of baptism over ten persons at Viwa, the whole congregation were greatly moved, and many received impressions which were never lost. Among others present on the occasion was Vatea, Namosimalua's favourite wife. She was a fine, healthy woman, but, as her heart became contrite, under the holy influence then felt, she fainted several times with excessive emotion. Going to her home, she continued in earnest prayer, until, on the, same day, she found peace with God, and lived afterwards a happy and useful member of the Church. The rigid fidelity with which the way to the Lord's Supper was kept shut against all who lived in known sin, made that sacrament a peculiarly solemn service in the eyes of the people. One very interesting feature in the public M'orship was the singing. The people learned to sing some of the hymns which had been prepared for them, to simple English tunes. But the most striking effect was pro- duced by their chanting of the Confession and Te Deum to one of their own wild strains. One person would chant the first sentence in a * subdued tone, followed by another, who took the next an octave higher, and then the whole congregation joined in with the third clause in unison ; and so in regular order through the entire composition. On August 12th, 1844, Mr. Hunt received efficient help. The • Then follows a description of the bolebole. See pp. 36, 86.