Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/500

 466 FIJI AKD THE FIJIAl^^S. In 1853, a fresh and terrible proof was given that the power of Satan in Fiji was still strong. The good influence of the Gospel had spread far and reached deep ; but it seemed that, on this very account, the opposition of the old evil became fiercer and more desperate. In the July following his father's death, Thakombau was formally invested with the supreme dignity of Vunivalu. The celebration of this event was made the more imposing by the arrival in Mr. Owen's vessel of Tui Thakau, King of Somosomo, accompanied by a large retinue, and bringing immense store of native property to present to Thakombau. Very early on the morning of the appomted day, July 26th, a messenger informed Mr. Calvert that eighteen persons of the Ndau-ni-Nakelo tribe had just been taken to Mbau, some dead and some still alive. Mr. Calvert at once crossed over, and reached the place before sunrise, when he learned that one of the victims had escaped during the night, and that twelve were dead, and five yet living. On reaching the temples at Lasakau and Soso — the Fishermen's quarters — a fearful sight presented itself to the Missionary. The mangled bodies of the dead were exposed there, and the survivors, bound and badly wounded, looked at the white man with intense anxiety. Mr. Calvert at once went to the King, who was just about to be formally placed in his high office, and who now received the Missionary with perfect composure, listening, while he was reminded of his late father's sparing the women at the request of the Missionaries' wives, and of his own promise to Lieut. Pollard, that, on a former visit of the Somosomans, no bodies should be cooked. The King firmly refused to hinder the horrible feast for which preparations were already made, and the ovens heated. He said he should be quite willing to accompany Mr. Calvert on board the next ship of war that came, and explain his conduct ; but was told that, as he persisted in such disgusting practices, he would not be permitted to stand on the deck of an English vessel. He said, " Go to the Chief of the Fisher- men, and ask him to spare the living ; and to the King of Somosomo, and ask him not to eat the dead." The Missionary, knowing that this would be useless, refused. The King then boldly said, " I alone can save the living, and have the dead buried. What I choose I do, and none can interfere." A report then came that all were killed ; where- upon Mr. Calvert left, declaring himself clear of that guilt which would rest upon Thakombau alone. He hastened to Lasakau, and fomid the report to be false, and that five still lived. He then followed the Chief of the Fishermen into the temple, much to the confusion ofthat digni- tary and his people, who had brought the victims to ]Ibau. The Chief said that he had spared the man who was shared to him, as an offering to