Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/506

 4Y2 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. and, ill effect, seek his sanction for the Chief being killed, Mr. Calvert remonstrated with him : " Mr. Whippy, you are well acquainted with the customs of Fiji, and you must know that the death of the King would require and involve the death of very many : and, should hn^ death be accomplished, whom do you consider at all equal to him to undertake the government 1 " He admitted that there was no one com- parable to the reigning Chief; but they had engaged in hostilities, and could not, for the present, think of being satisfied with less than the death of the man for whom they had conceived deadly hatred. In addition to the pressure of public affairs Thakombau was afflicted with a distressing illness, and thus made to feel more anxious about his salvation. Just then he heard of the assassination of his late visitor, Tuikilakila, King of Somosomo. After hearing from him a description of the murder, Mr. Calvert said, " Yes ; he was long warned by God's faithful servants ; but he hardened his heart, and opposed the Gospel ; yet the Lord bore with him, and then severely afflicte(? him, so that he was made to listen attentively during a long affliction to the faithful warnings and constant instruction of Mr. Lyth. But when he was raised up, by God's blessing on Mr. Lyth's medical skill and care, he again resisted God's truth. Now he has been suddenly cut off without remedy, and he will have jio excuse when judged by Jesus Christ." He anxiously asked, " And does the Lord work so 1 " Mr. Calvert replied : " Yes ; you have been faithfully warned and instructed, but you have refused to abandon your sins and seek God's mercy through Christ. Now, the Lord has tried you in various ways, and afflicted you : look at your leg — so reduced ! You ought to submit to God, and seek his mercy." Thakombau felt keenly what was said ; and now that the adverse influence of the whites was cut off, there was good reason to hope for success, although Mr. Waterhouse had still the pain of witnessing the horrors of cannibalism in the town of Mbau. While the Vunivalu was smarting from continued defeat in war, he received a letter, on April 22nd, 1854, from King George of Tonga, urging him to become Christian. King George had just been on a visit to Sydney, and sent, with the letter, a newspaper, containing a violent letter from Mr. J. B. Williams, U. S. Consul in Fiji, who had unwisely credited the Mbau Chief and others with many articles, and who had also a pique against the King for ha^nng sent an improper message to the principal of the Consul's native women. This letter complained of grievances in Fiji, and of leniency of commanders of ships of war who had visited the islands. Mr. Williams was anxious that " cast-iron reasons " should be used to " teach the fellows how to behave." He