Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/371

EEWA. 341 muskets, often disturbed and alarmed the inmates of the Mission settle- ment. In the following May there arrived the bodies of twenty- persons who had been entrapped and killed by the young Chief of Viwa, and by Thakombau. Strangling was very common. A man, in attempting to swim across the river, was eaten by sharks, and his widow strangled, before the Missionary heard any thing of the matter. In June Mr. Waterhouse again visited Eewa. He was surprised to find a bridge across the river, built by the natives since his former visit. It was of timber, in thirteen spans ; the whole length being a hundred and forty-seven feet, and the centre fourteen feet above the water. The state of the Mission settlement also gave him great satis- faction. Ratu Nggara had now returned from his banishment ; but the King was far from reconciled, and a civil war was feared, as the brother was a terrible character and possessed great influence. Mr. Waterhouse presented an offering of whales' teeth, praying that Eatu Nggara might be forgiven, and war avoided. The King received the offering favourably ; but said, " I will not drink yaqona with him yet. He is a very bad man ; he was a party to the stealing of goods when the Missionaries first came ; he is an enemy to the lotu ; he has no soul ; he is like a bird or beast, or like the Englishmen who come hither because they will not lotu in their own land. When he is humbled, truly humbled, I will forgive him." Another application was made to the King, to the same effect, by Tanoa of Mbau. The priest who brought the message was sadly put out because it was disregarded, while the Missionary's offering had been received so favourably. So he thereupon became inspired, and, in divine fervour, abused the King for attending to these people from a foreign land. To this the King replied : " I know that they are come out of love to me, and that their words are true. They speak like friends, and desire good. They do not come here to tempt. They wish this land to be prospered. No evil arises from their purposes. We are enriched by the property they bring." The god in the priest answered, " It is not good. How is it that you do not accept the offering that I bring % " " Because," said the King, " the speech of the Fijians is contrary. You say it is good not to war ; and then you will go to my brother and tell him that it is good to fight. If you say one thing to me, you will say quite different at Mbau." The Rewa Chiefs followed up these appeals, so that at last the King consented to be reconciled to his brother, and a day was fixed for the