Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/540

 502 FIJI AKD THE FIJIJlN'S. ism towards me, and three Heathen — two of whom were grey-headed — came up with them. We knelt together in the open air, and united in a public act of dedication to Almighty God. After a little time spent in giving further instruction to those who had declared them- selves on the Lord's side, we returned to Nasavusavu, accompanied by a man who begged medicine for some Heathen. Here also we kept the end of our coming in view, but had no visible success. We pitched our tents for the night, and sailed home next morning. These are small beginnings, but encouraging to one who is working amongst constant opposition. Another source of consolation I ought to name, — a brotherly visit from Mr. Calvert, who passed a few days with us a month ago, to our great comfort." In the face of determined and well-organized opposition on the part of several Chiefs, and among much suffering and discouragement, Mr. Williams pursued his work, visiting many different places, and striving to do good to the bodies as well as the souls of the people. No great success followed these efforts as yet, but some cheering instances happened of Heathens embracing the lotu ; so that the Mis- sionary could say in August, 1849, " On nearly every Sunday in the months of ^lay and June, I had to rejoice over converts from Heathen- ism in some one or more of the villages near to me. During the past year, not less than a hundred and thirty have been thus converted in this Circuit. There is an increase of ninety-two church members, and there are sixty-nine on trial : a hundred and forty persons, chiefly adults, have been baptized. The total number of persons now meeting in Class is over three hundred and twenty ; and I suppose we have, besides these, nearly two hundred hearers." On his first arrival at Lakemba, Mr. Williams had exerted himself to improve his dwelling-house ; and determined, on reaching his new Station, to spare no pains to supply the people with higher notions and superior models of architecture. He accordingly built a most substantial and neat Mission-house ; * and, by the help of a willing people, erected a chapel, superior in every respect to anything of the kind in Fiji. The Mission establishment and the chapel present an imposing and attractive appearance to visitors, as they ascend the river to Tiliva. Mr. Williams's own account of the carrying on and completion of the work is deeply interesting.
 * See Frontispiece.