Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/491

 VIWA AND MBAU. 457 to join in this demonstration, as he would have been obliged to do had he been visible, had quietly slipped into a small temple at the foot of the steps. This annoyed the priest, or rather the god, who forthwith cried out, " Where is Thakombau ? I don't see him ! Why does he not make his appearance '? And why has he brought this foreigner ? His unbelief leads him to act in this way. But I have conquered many places, and I shall still be victorious, being the god of war." The ceremony closed without anything more remarkable, and the expe- dition started, certain of success ; but, in spite of preconcerted treachery, they had to retreat hastily, with a priest and several others wounded. The special offerings had failed, and the old system proved false again, whereby its hold on the people was loosened, and fresh vantage-ground given to the teachers of the truth. There were many signs of this les- sening power of the old religion. During the absence of the army on the late expedition, food was frequently eaten without the customary offering to the gods ; and when he returned, Thakombau declared his intention of taking the priest to task for his false prediction. It was strange that this man, who opposed the establishment of Christianity, Should reprove openly those who spoke against it ; yet such was repeat- edly the case. Once, when speaking to the Missionaries about the giving up of their Station at Somosomo,he said, " Had you continued to labour at Somosomo till now, which you ought to have done, as self- denying and persevering Missionaries, the people would have been softened down, and brought to like Christianity." During Mr. Calvert's three days' stay at Mbau, he was thrown much into the company of Mara, the reputed brother of the King. This man exercised a powerful influence in favour of Mbau, in some parts of Fiji. He professed to be a Christian ; but the profession was unsupported by his conduct, any further than his abandonment of heathen customs. While conversing one evening with him in the King's house, in the presence of a large company, Mr. Calvert said that it would take a large book to enter all the lies told by the priests during the war which was still unsettled. Mara shrewdly caught the remark, and forthwith published it to the company with his own emendations. " Mr. Calvert says it would take ei^A^ large books to enter all the lies the priests have told during the war." In answer to the close inquiries of the Mission- ary, Mara said, " My religion threatens to go quite out, and then it revives again, and is not likely to be extinguished : it is not like the religion of some, blazing up, or rushing on with great violence and fuss, and then altogether ceasing ; but it goes on gently and steadily." This was said with a knowing sort of seriousness that was irresistibly droll.