Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/531

 CHAPTEE IX. MBUA. The Mission labours, sufferings, and perils on the large island of Vanua Levu — the Great Land — have been similar to those already- described, although thej have their own events of peculiar interest. The greater part of the island still remains under the old darkness of its superstition and cruelty ; and the servants of Christ who have faith- fully laboured there, await with patient confidence the ultimate and glorious triumph of that Gospel which has so greatly blessed other parts of Eiji. About 1843, the heathen Chief of Mbua procured a Teacher from Viwa to instruct a friend of his who had renounced idolatry for the Christian faith. This Teacher, and others who were afterwards sent to his help, laboured under the indirect sanction of the Mbua Chief, and had such encouraging success, that, although the district had been unsettled by war, the converts, in 1845, amounted to three hundred. Presently this fair prospect was darkened by a change in the feelings and conduct of Tui Mbua, the Chief, the circumstances of which are thus given by the Rev. Thomas Williams. " About this time Ratu Verani became a Christian. The people around Mbua, where he had great influence, had long said they should lotu to a man when Verani did ; and now the time had come. But it was quickly seen that Verani was intent on being a Christian, not, like his uncle, Namosi- malua, seeming to be one : and one of his first steps towards becoming one gave huge offence to Tui Mbua. Verani was married to his chief wife: the others he returned to their friends with explanatory and conciliatory messages. Amongst the returned ladies was a daughter of Tui Mbua, who determined to revenge her dismissal by persecuting his Christian subjects. Raitono, the companion of his life, and most trusty servant, was disgraced, because he would not again become a Heathen. A ruffian of low birth was invested with much of his power, because the most likely person to gratify the revengeful deter- mination of Tui Mbua, by using it to the injury of the Christians.