Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/494

 460 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. This commander compared favourably with Commander Petigru, who had been in Fiji in the previous February and March, in the United States ship of war, the " Falmouth." He was from the Southern States, was an owner of slaves, and had but little sympathy with the coloured race. Yet, as he became more acquainted with the Fijians, he was sur- prised and pleased with them ; and, when not overpowered with whiskey, addressed them with intelligence and force. But the effects of the visits of the two ships on the minds of the reflecting Chiefs and people were widely different, and the striking contrast will long be remembered. In September, a Eoman Catholic Bishop arrived in Fiji with Priests. He was anxious to land one at Mbau or Viwa. The people feared and hated Popery, and would not receive the Priests. At Viwa the Bishop intrigued with the American Consul to land a Priest, against the ex- press request of the Chiefs ; but the design got wind, and was frustrated. This caused the issue of the usual threat of a ship of war. His Lord- ship had managed better at Ovalau, by landing at a blacksmith's shop a carpenter, or brother, or student, with goods belonging to the Priest whom he hoped to smuggle ashore at Viwa or Mbau. The goods had been received at Ovalau with the understanding that they and the man should be removed in a few days. But the Bishop was not going to remove his foot after once getting it in ; so, having failed elsewhere, he managed to settle the Priest with a white man who owned some land at a village adjoining Levuka. The schoolmaster for Levuka, for whom application had been made to England, had not yet arrived, and the Native Teachers were hardly able to meet the new system of Popery. As it was impossible to get a Station at Mbau for the present, Mr. Waterhouse removed to Ovalau towards the end of 1851, and began his arduous labours among the whites, with their numerous connexions, and the natives of the islandv In the following May, Mr. Binner, a trained Schoolmaster and Local Preacher, arrived with his wife. He found a good school of about eighty half-caste children, which had been organized by Mr. Waterhouse. Mr. Binner at once entered upon his duties, and has laboured with great diligence and acceptance in the school, the number having been doubled since his arrival. The children, both male and female, have made en- couraging progress ; but the boys have been too soon removed from the school, in order to help their parents or guardians in work at home, or, more generally, in sailing about Fiji in small schooners for trading. This is cause of deep regret, as the boys are capable of becoming edu- cated. However, Mr. Binner's services are still afforded, ; and, though