Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/363

EEWA. 333 pie from approaching the premises, and thus foiled the attempt of his persecuting brother, Ratu Nggara, who tried three times to cross the river, but was prevented by the canoe sinking each time. On the 21st Joel Bulu, the Tongan Teacher, begged the Missionaries to take the open air service, as he feared the stones, which were now thrown more than ever at the Christians. They consented, and were pelted by a volley of large stones, some more than two pounds in weight. It was well known that Ratu Nggara took the lead in urging them to this attack, which, however, failed ; for, though the stones fell thick and heavy, no one was hurt, or moved away until the service was finished. Their dangers, which became more frequent, kept the Mission fam- ilies in alarm ; nor were they re-assured when, on the 31st, they were awakened by strange noises on the other side of the river. On running out they saw, for the first time, the horrid sight of the dragging of hu- man bodies, seventeen of which were just being handed out of a canoe, having been sent from Mbau as the Rewa share of two hundred and sixty persons killed in the sacking of towns belonging to Verata. One of the corpses was that of an old man of seventy, another of a fine young woman of eighteen, the others being of youths and strong men. All were dragged about and subjected to abuse too horrible and disgusting to be described, and the sight of which gave the terrified spectators across the river such a shock as they did not get over for many days. One of them says, "The scene appeared to the imagina- tion as if a legion of demons had been unchained, and let loose among the people, to revel in their degradation and misery, and to lash their passions into a storm of imbruted or diabolical barbarity." The King did not himself partake of any of these seventeen bodies, he having abandoned the practice on the arrival of the first Missionary. A few days after, the Rewans set out to destroy a town on the isl- and of Mbengga, about thirty miles distant. One of the party and three of the besieged were killed. The position of the town defied the re- sources of Fijian assault ; but the people submitted to their Chiefs and capitulated, ofiering two women, a basket of earth, whales' teeth and mats, to buy the reconciliation of the Rewans, who returned in high glee, shouting and dancing, to celebrate their victory. It is remarkable that, even in such scenes as this, the influence of the Gospel began to show itself. While at Mbengga, the King would not let his people fight on the Sabbath, lest they should offend Almighty God ; and when a nominal Christian went out with a foraging party on that day, and got his foot cut by a sharp bamboo placed for the purpose by the peo-