Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/287

ONO. 26T and of Vatoa — the nearest to the Ono cluster — had become lotu. One of its inhabitants had been converted at Lakemba, and, on his return home, had persuaded the people to forsake their old religion. When the Lakemba canoe, with the Teachers on board, called on the way to Ono, the good work was greatly helped by their visit, so that all the inhabitants, sixty-six in number, professed Christianity, and begged for a Teacher. Among the directions given by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society to its Missionaries is found the following : " No man living in a state of polygamy is to be admitted a member, or even on trial, who will not consent to live with one woman as his wife, to whom you shall join him in matrimony, or ascertain that this rite has been performed by some other Minister : and the same rule is to be applied, in the same manner, to a woman proposing to become a member of Society." To this rule the Missionaries strictly adhered. Any man, having more than one wife, who offered himself as a candidate for membership, was required to select one to whom he should be duly and religiously mar- ried, and reject all the rest. In some establishments, of course, such a change was of great importance, and considerable difficulties seemed to stand in the way. It is these difficulties that have made some, even in high ecclesiastical position, plead for the toleration of polygamy in the case of those who are converted while living in its practice. But these difficulties have always been found to give way before a clear assertion of the right, and an unbending exaction of its observance. The practice in question is " only evil continually." It is discountenanced and con- demned by Holy Scripture. It forms an unfailing source of domestic misery, family quarrels, and civil war. It dooms the children to neg- lect, and teaches them little but to hate the other children of the same father. Without fear or favour, therefore, the Missionaries in all cases enforced their rule in this matter, and found that here as elsewhere difficulties yielded to the firm maintenance of right principle. Tlie ultimate injury done to the dismissed wives is not so great as appears to those at a distance. It must be remembered that their position, with the exception of that of the chief lady, was merely one of concubinage, in which they were always exposed to the capricious tyranny of their lord, and the more malicious despotism of the favourite wife, while, among themselves, perpetual jealousies made peace impossible. An- other important fact must be borne in mind. Polygamy is actually confined to comparatively few. It is only the wealthy and powerful who can afford to maintain such an expensive indulgence. Hence there are always to be found husbands for the discarded women, who " go