Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/479

 VIWA AND MBATJ. 445 people, had long professed Christianity, and still remained faithful according to his knowledge. He gathered a congregation of about a hundred persons in the open air, to whom Mr. Calvert declared the Gospel. Slender as was the acquaintance of the Chief with the religion which he professed, yet it was enough to cause him to oppose the evils he had once practised. While he and some Heathens were out fishing, a fishing-canoe was wrecked near, and the Heathens, according to Fiji custom, wished to kill those who escaped ; but Kavato resolutely with- stood them, saying that he was a Christian, and that it was unlawful to take away life. After visiting an American barque, and holding inter- course with savages who had never before been within sound of the Gospel, Mr. Calvert went to the island of Rotuma, and returned safely to Viwa. In January, 1850, a reinforcement arrived. The Missionaries had appealed to the Wesleyans in New South Wales for help, and these had replied by sending Messrs. W. Moore and J. G. Millard, with their wives, all of whom reached Viwa, by the " Wesley " on the 23rd. On that day Mr. Calvert had arranged to try a Missionary Meeting, and had informed the white residents that they would now have an oppor- tunity of doing something for the support of those Missions to which they owed many advantages. Captain Buck, of the " Wesley," pre- sided at the meeting ; and he, the whites, and the Missionaries con- tributed over £30. The natives, too, made a collection, consisting of 70 mats, 44 baskets, 3 bows with arrows, 7 pieces of sandal-wood, 16 fans, 62 very superior clubs, 1 pillow, 31 spears, 11 hand-clubs, 4 ladies' dresses, 3 pieces of native cloth, 5 water-vessels, 4 combs, and 1 pig. With such an auspicious commencement the newly-arrived Missionaries were much encouraged. The next day, on visiting Mbau, they had a glimpse of the darker side of Fijian life. They saw a cooked body ; the hands and feet of another cut off for cooking ; and the Chief's sister, whose nose had been cut off by her own brother, as punishment for unfaithfulness to her husband. As yet, every effort to establish a Station at Mbau had failed. The place was frequently visited, and Thakombau had promised to build a Mission-house, confessing that Christianity was true, and would become universal in Fiji ; but he must wait until peace was established by the conquest of all his enemies. Many of the people were becoming grad- ually enlightened and softened by what they heard from the Mission- aries. They perished in war, or by disease, yet none dared to take the decisive step. At last, at the end of January, a Chief of highest rank, Na Yangondamu, the King's cousin, lotued. Mr. Calvert went to the