Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/325

LAKEMBA, 295 near, and said, " I have desired a visit from you. I wished to go to your house that we might worship the true God together ; but I could not. I have, therefore, made an offering to the gods we have wor- shipped. I hate them much. They are liars. I am greatly grieved because I have long neglected to worship the true God. I am now de- termined to pray to God. If I die while worshipping Him, it will be well. Mr. Gross is a good man. He was of few words ; but we always felt when he spoke to us." In the presence of the Chief's three wives and several of his friends, Mr. Calvert made known to him more fully the nature of sin and the atonement of the Saviour, and then, at his request, prayed for him. Mr. Cross had then lefl four years, and this long-delayed result of good greatly encouraged his successor. In several of the native villages on the island progress was made. Early in 1840, a neat chapel was finished at Narothake, when one couple was married, and thirteen persons, who had been under instruc- tion, were baptized. In this place, the heathens were very favourably disposed towards the Christians, and even helped in building the chapel. At the opening, a large quantity of food was provided and shared to people from nine towns, under the management of an influ- ential old Tongan, who had become naturalized in Lakemba, and was the head man at Narothake. Besides the large number of resident Tongans at Lakemba, there were frequent visits by canoes from the Friendly Islands ; and the visitors were generally careful in the observance of the Sabbath, and other points of Christian duty. Some, however, were not so faithful, and gave the Missionary a great deal of trouble. They would some- times oppress and impose upon the natives, who, however disposed, were unable to resent the injury. This made the Missionary's position very delicate ; for, while he had to encourage the Christian Tongans in all that was right, and repress any tendency to wrong, his chief work was among the Fijians, whose favour it was very important to secure. One Sunday morning, information reached the Mission-house that there was a disturbance between the natives and the Tongans. It seemed that, as some Fijians were going to fish that morning, they asked some Christian Tongans which was the sacred day ; and, on be- ing told, set up a shout and shook their fish-spears at the Tongans, who could not brook the insult, but handled the others somewhat roughly. The Fijians, enraged, prepared for war ; and both parties were soon in arms. Mr. Calvert at once ran to the Tongans, and then to the King, begging them to refrain from hostility. He met many running to and fro, ready for fighting ; but, happily, no musket had as yet been fired.