Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/254

224: FIJI Am) THE FIJIANS. these were evidently sincere, and became candidates for baptism at the next time of its administration. The island of Lakemba is about thirty miles in circumference, and contains, besides the King's town, and the three Tongan settlements, eight other towns, giving a population to the entire island of about four thousand.. These towns are situated at intervals round the coast, and many of the people belonging to them, on their visit to head-quarters, had seen the Mission premises, and gone home to tell of what had excited their own admiration. Thus the number of visitors increased, and after a while many became dissatisfied with their own gods, and tired of the exactions of the priests, and came regularly on the Sunday to worship at the new chapel. In doing so, they had to pass by the King's town, which gave rise to much talk and ill-feeling about these common people, who presumed to think for themselves, in the matter of religion, and even dared to forsake the gods of their own land, in favour of the new God of whom these strangers spoke. As the people became more enlightened, they refused to work on the Sabbath, and to present the accustomed offering of first-fruits to the god of the King's town, declaring that they believed him and the other deities of the island to be no gods at all. Threats were issued by those in authority, but, in the case of many, proved ineffectual. Things would probably have been hastened to a painful crisis by severe measures, had it not been for the fact that a powerful Tongan Chief, whose party formed the great protection of Lakemba, against its utter subjection to Mbau and Somosomo, had publicly avowed his convertion to Christianity. Some years before, at the earlier stage of the Tongan Mission, this man had made some profession of the new religion, but during his afler residence in Fiji had become once more thoroughly heathen. The presence of this important person at the head of the young ranks of Christians insured their protection from actual violence. The King and his brother were sorely troubled to know how to act. The lotu, as they called the Christian religion, was spreading, and already producing strange results. Beyond the chief island of Lakemba, into several of her tributary islands, the influence extended. The priests were con- sulted, and forthwith became violently inspired, declaring that the gods were much agitated, and gathered in anxious conference in the spirit- world, concerning this foreign religion. The Kmg's god spoke very decisively. First he gave notice that he would send a partial flood, and set the strangers, with their new worship and all belonging to them, swimming in the sea. Soon a more direful visitation was announced. The island was to be turned inside out, and all dwelling upon it to