Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/549

 MBUA. 511 the memory blind Shem was a sure guide ; and scarcely less certain in impromptu an- swers to questions on Old and New Testament history. It was not, however, until I had been in school some time, that I observed the girls also had a blind leader ; one in whom they put no little confidence. But Pauline was not so intelligent as Shem, nor so active. He took his part in all the evolutions through which the children were put ; but she, not sharing his confidence, sat during these. Shem is a very quick lad. He needs only to hear a hymn or psalm repeated twice or thrice, and he is ready to become the teacher of it to his bright-eyed class-mates. And the best of all is, the blind boy knows Jesus as his Saviour. On the day of my arrival, Mr. Moore returned from visiting "Wailevu and Na Ndundu. He found that most of the people there, who embraced the lotu last year, have given it up this. Hard words from Mbau, and the anger of their gods, shown in a failure of the yam crop, are the reasons they assign." The continuance of hostilities interfered with the progress of the Mission, although the evil was somewhat lessened by Mr. Williams prevailing upon Tui Mbua, the Chief of Mbua, to take no part in the Ndama war. The condition of the Christian settlement near the Mis- sion-house continued to improve. The people became very industrious, and at last accomplished the unprecedented exploit of building three canoes. By means of these, a better supply of provisions was insured, and the Missionary and Teachers were more easily conveyed from place to place. The good example thus set was not lost, and the first to follow it was the principal heathen Chief, who began to build a canoe for himself. On the 25th of September, Mr. Williams sent an encouraging school report to the General Secretaries. " The most cheering of recent events is the return to Xandi of our worthy brother Hazlewood, who, having accomplished the purpose of his late visit to the Colonies, is again at his post, pursuing, with renewed strength and other new advantages, his useful labours. During his absence from Fiji he has worked diligently for us, having materially advanced the translation department. His intercourse with civilized society and kind friends has in nowise lessened his love for the Fiji Mission, which, with those who labour on it, and those we strive to benefit, appears to be dearer than ever to him. Mr. and Mrs. Hazlewood interrupted our long solitude by a visit, which, in consequence of strong winds, was protracted to seventeen days, when they left us in our little schooner, the " It is our custom to hold our school meetings when the * "Wesley' visits us ; but as that noble brig's visit to England will keep her from us some time to come, I held the Tiliva school-feast whilst Mr. Hazlewood was at this place. In quieter times we have more visitors ; but, on the whole, we have not had a pleasanter meeting. The male and female Testament classes read each a chapter ; a number of young men, and two young women, repeated each a chapter with great correctness ; some of the children also recited portions of Scripture and hymns ; the children in a body chanted the Ten Command- ments, the Second Psalm, and some of their school lessons, besides spelling, and answer- ing a few simple questions in geography. They then received a dress each from those kindly supplied by Mrs. Hoole, London, and by other kind friends in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. " The older boys, to the number of twenty or over, presented hanks of sinnet, their own platting, and, excepting two or three, the first they had ever made. The Chiefs,
 * Ngauna Yinaka.'