Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/520

 484 FIJI AKD THE FIJLO-S. hands. Chapels were built and houses opened for religious service in every direction. By the help of Native Agents from Lakemba and Nandi, and by employing those converts who could read and pray in public, most of the places were supplied with one service on the Sab- bath. Only one Teacher could be spared for the island of Moturiki, where there were nine towns to be visited. The Teacher managed the work as well as he could, by starting early on the Sabbath morning with service at one town, and then passing on to the next, and so on until his strength or the daylight was spent, when he would stay at the last town he had been able to reach. Other more distant, islands, be- longing to Mbau, followed the example set at head-quarters. At Nairai a very devoted Teacher laboured with great success. When Mr. Waterhouse visited the island, he not only found many in earnest in their desire for salvation, but one man, the signs of whose conversion were clear and satisfactory. This new convert had already gained extensive scriptural knowledge, and preached with all clearness the doctrine of justification by faith, furnishing proof of what he taught by well chosen quotations from the New Testament. The old Chief at Nairai resolved to put away his many wives, and be married in due form to the oldest. She advised him to select one who was younger, but he refused, saying, " I understand the matter. It is right to take the one I have lived longest with ; and let the younger ones be married to persons of their own age, with whom they will be happy, and have children." Some Mbau Chiefs residing on the island wished him to postpone the step, as the Vunivalu was not yet married, and, in casting away all his wives but one, he would not be likely to get so many mats made for tribute to Mbau. But he said death would not delay, and he was not thinking about the making of mats, but about the salvation of his soul. And he was then married. The Holy Ghost was poured out plentifully on the young Church at Nairai, and hundreds of persons yielded to His power, and very many rejoiced in the favour of God- This state of things was soon made known far and wide, and in other islands fresh interest was excited on behalf of the lotu, and many inquired after the blessings of the Gospel, no man daring now to make them afraid. At this time the number of regular worshippers in the Mbau Circuit was ascertained to be 8,870. !t had been evident throughout, and now seemed clearer than ever, that the Missionaries had been guided by Him for whom they lived, when they established the Station at Viwa. Visits from this island led to the establishment of the two Circuits of Mbau and Nandi. Ovalau was occupied, for years, as a part of the Viwa Circuit. At the break-