Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/558

 520 FIJI AOT) THE FIJIA^^S. The Christian Chief Hezekiah is still in earnest about his soul, and devoted to his Master's cause. He and the Society at Tiliva, assisted by the resident Tongans, have built a neat and commodious school-room free of expense. It is used for the children's school, and for the instruc- tion of the Teachers and young men who promise to be useful in the work. In May, we opened a small, but very substantial, chapel at Ndalomo. Several more are needed throughout the Circuit ; and we hope soon to see them standing trophies of the Cross, and as bulwarks against the enemy of souls. In this section of the Fijian field, there is the prospect of the harvest soon becoming great. The glory of all our successes we thankfully ascribe to Him who alone giveth the increase. We lament that we have. so few qualified labourers to send into the harvest That such agents may be provided, we are sensible that much and incessant labour will be required from the ^lissionary, as well as the instruction of the Divine Teacher. In this momentous duty we trust we shall be found faithful. We are pleased to find a growing inquiry after books, and we hope soon to see that we are not labouring in vain in the school department of our work. At present the greater part of those under instruction are in the alphabet and spelling classes ; but we have great encouragement, from the fact that several young men, taught by our predecessors, have this year been blessed of God, and have been found eligible to be sent to read God's word, and to attempt to preach the glad tidings of salvation to their fellow-men." Once more the care of this Station passed into fresh hands, in consequence of the rapidly failing strength of ]fr. Malvern, which made his removal to a more healthy Station immediately necessary. The Rev. W. Wilson now took charge of the Mbua Circuit, and in October, 1856, writes : — " The return of the ' John Wesley ' to Fiji, after she has done the Tonga work, has given me the opportunity of looking round a considerable part of my new Circuit, and of meeting the greater number of the Classes to renew their quarterly tickets. With the work of God in this Circuit I am delighted. The Local Preachers are zealous and pious, the members appear sincere, and some of them are clear and sound in their experience. At Kdama, a place which has suffered much for religion, we have a flourishing cause ; the chapel is too small for the congregation, the Classes are in a spiritual condition, and this quarter they have contributed in mats, cocoa-nuts, and oil, what has paid their Teacher, and nearly the quarterage of two others. The people are now beginning to contribute with cheerfulness, and to an amount which has paid their Teachers this quarter. In this we greatly rejoice, because it shows they value religion, and it will also save the funds of the Society. " Since I began this letter, a Local Preacher who volunteered to go to a great dis- tance, to a heathen population, and who even left his wife and children behind him, has returned with a Chief. They report that twenty-five have embraced Christianity, that many are waiting until the Missionary can go, and then they will become Christian. The