Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/283

ONO. 253 to join them in the new worship. The late visitors to Lakemba had also heard something concerning the Sabbath institution, and resolved to set apart every seventh day as holy, to be used only for the worship of God. Food was accordingly prepared for the Sabbath, and the best dresses were put on, and the bodies of the worshippers anointed more profusely than usual with oil. But on meeting together, they found themselves in a great difficulty about the conduct of the service. None of them had ever tried to pray ; but they had always been accustomed to employ the mediation of priests in their religious observances. A heathen priest was therefore waited upon, and informed of the purpose and perplexity of the people. Whether moved by his own good tem- per, or by fear of the consequences of refusal, the priest consented to become chaplain; and in this strange groping way did these Ono Heathens feel after the Lord, if haply they might find Him. When all were seated, the priest offered prayer in terms after the following fashion : " Lord, Jehovah ! here are Thy people : they worship Thee. I turn my back on Thee for the present, and am on another tack, wor- shipping another god. But do thou bless these Thy people : keep them from harm, and do them good." Such was the first act of worship rendered to the Almighty in the far-off island of Ono. After it was over, the people returned to their usual work for the rest of the day, and, with the Heathen priest still for their minister, tried to serve God, as well as they knew how. But they were not satisfied, and a great longing grew up among them to have some one to teach them the way of the Lord more perfectly. A whaler, on her way to the Friendly Islands, called at Ono for provisions, and a passage was engaged on board of her for two messengers, who should lay the case of the people before the Missionaries at Tonga, and beg them to send a teacher. The return from such a voyage is a long affair in those parts ; and since the time when Wai came back from Lakemba, after having heard of the lotu^ many months had passed. The Lord, who knew the desire of those simple hearts, making such clumsy efforts to struggle up to him out of their old religion of false- hood and crime, was not unmindful of their prayer. In May, 1836, a canoe left Lakemba bound for Tonga, having on board a number of converted Tongans. The wind was contrary ; the canoe got out of her course, and drifted away to Vatoa or Turtle Island, not more than fifly miles from Ono, and between it and the main group. A young man who had taken at baptism the name of Josiah, was one of these Chris- tians, and conducted their worship during the voyage. He heard that the people at Ono were inquiring for light, and immediately hastened