Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/445

 VrWA AND MBATJ. 413 Rev. John Watsford was sent from Sydney, in compliance with an urgent request for assistance, and commenced his work at Viwa, where he soon gained a knowledge of the language and laboured with very great earnestness and zeal. In the following March, he wrote : — " I have been preaching for about two months and a half, assisted by something written beforehand. Last Sunday I preached extempore. I have also commenced leading a Class, and begin to feel confidence in speaking in Fijian. I feel much for these poor souls who have not yet my Saviour known, and pray God to help me, and make me instru- mental in saving some from eternal burnings. " We have found that the cruelties and cannibalism of Fiji exceed all the description which has been given : not one half has been told. The whole cannot be told. The war between Mbau and Rewa is still carried on. Some towns have been burned, and many persons have been killed and eaten, since we last wrote; and it is more than probable that hundreds more will follow them ere the war terminates. At Mbau, perhaps, more human beings are eaten than anywhere else. A few weeks ago they ate twenty-eight in one day. They had seized their wretched victims while fishing, and brought them alive to Mbau, and there half killed them, and then put them into their ovens. Some of them made several vain attempts to escape from the scorching flame. It makes our hearts bleed to hear of their fiend-like cruelty ; and we pray God, and beseech the Christian world to pray with us, that the wickedness of this cruel people may soon come to an end." Mr. Jaggar and his family were now at Viwa, having been obliged to quit the Rewa Station on account of the war. The training of the Teachers and youths was carried on by Mr. Hunt with great energy and success. They would read a short theo- logical lecture together, and then make it the subject of conversation and inquiry. One of the students had already become a great help to Mr. Hunt in his translating work. Geography, history, and other matters were studied with encouraging results. In May, Mr. Hunt made a tour round his wide Circuit, and visited, during a month's absence, the islands of Moturiki and Ovalau ; Nandi on Vanua Levu, where he married ten couples, among whom were the King and Queen ; and he was the guest of Rai, a converted high priest at Moanaithake, where twelve couples were married, including Rai and his principal wife. Eighty-four natives were baptized, after close examination, in these two places. Solevu and Mbua were also visited on this large island, and then Nakorotumbu on Viti Levu.