Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/548

 510 FIJI AKD THE FIJIA^^S. accompany him ; but, as I did not believe my presence absolutely needed, I relinquished my purpose, at his own request, seconded by that of Mrs. Williams, just as I was going on board his canoe. Having cautioned Ratu Elijah not to visit Nawatha except well at- tended by armed men, I returned to be a check on a suspicious-looking body of Heathen, who had assembled at a short distance from the Mission-house. " On arriving at N^dama, Ratu Elijah received a cordial welcome from Ra George, and his uncle, Tui Mbua, who expressed pleasure at the prospect of putting an entire stop to hostilities. They went in company to Xawatha, and Ratu Elijah, suspecting no harm, went unarmed and ill-attended. Whilst waiting the return of a party sent into the fortress to propose terms of peace, they were fired upon from an ambuscade. The Chief, George, fell with his face towards his murderers : he received three bullets through his body, a four-pronged spear in his back, and a deep gash in his head from a battle- axe. A random shot struck a young Teacher in the forehead, and he fell down dead. Tui Mbua, it is believed, was accessory to this murderous plot ; he hoped by it to destroy Ratu Elijah, but killed his own nephew. Whilst a Heathen, Yerani had killed several of Tui Mbua's people ; Tui Mbua has long sought to avenge their blood, and, finding Elijah so entirely in his power, the temptation to revenge was stronger than he could resist. Ordinary precaution would have defeated the plot. On seeing his nephew fall, Tui Mbua fled, accompanied by twenty Ndama people, to a neighbouring village. Aided by a mul- titude of Heathen who live only to do mischief, they kept the Xdama district in a state of alarm for more than a month. The Christians, at my earnest request, avoided aggres- sive warfare, and only fought to defend the three forts which sheltered them and their families. The enemy often attacked them, with loss to themselves ; but not one Christian life was lost. These facts have made a deep impression on the minds of those who are recent converts to the Christian faith : with them they are so many evidences that the religion of Jesus Christ is true. " The loss of Christian property by fire is considerable. The Heathen have destroyed their yam and banana gardens, and burnt down four villages, in which we had two chapels, and three Native Teachers' houses. " The death of Ra George is not a loss to this Circuit only, but to the Mission at large. He was a sincere and zealous supporter of its interests. " Considering the protracted excitement of this district, it is surprising that so few of the new converts have relapsed into Heathenism, — perhaps not more than ten. " That one half of this large island has not been involved in this war, is attributable to God's blessing on our unwearied efforts to maintain peace. Mr. Calvert at Mbau, and we on Vanua Levu, have toiled hard to appease the powers that be. Mr. Calvert kindly visited this place, and Nandi too. He took an active part in our proceedings, and has our sincerest thanks, " Amidst the diflBculties that thicken around us, we struggle forward, and labour and hope for great things, I am delighted to observe an increasing desire for God's word throughout the Circuit. Nearly every member of the Church who can read is in possession of a copy of the New Testament, A month since, two young men came to me from a distance of sixty miles, to ask for some work to do, that they might obtain each a New Testament, Since then, I have had other two from the same place, on the same errand. It is my joy to supply them, District Meeting. The state of our people in Na Savu, (the Circuit town,) and in two or three of the adjacent villages, is satisfactory. Mr. Moore is diligent in discharging the duties of his calling, and finds his pleasure increase, as he increases his knowledge of the people, and of their language. He has had rough usages from the savages of Solevu Bay. The schools at Na Savu are in an excellent state. The infant school, as it is called, has girls in it sixteen and eighteen years old ; but all composing it were very attentive. I soon perceived that the leader amongst the boys was quite blind. In all exercises ol
 * ' I have just returned from spending a week in the Nandi Circuit, as directed by the