Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/387

EEWA. 357 In November, the Rewa King, who had boldly declared to Sir Everard Home and others his set purpose to eat Thakombau, said thoughtfully, " If Thakombau be truly Christian, we shall not get him ; if he be a hypocrite, his Christianity will only be fuel to fire." Early in the next month, Ratu Nggara's spirit rose higher as he received the allegiance of many more towns near to Mbau, from which they had revolted. He was still kind to the Missionary, but less patient of reproof and instruction as the accomplishment of his bloody purpose seemed near. The example set by Mbau, in returning the bodies of the slain, had not been quite lost on the Rewans, and Mr. Moore succeeded in begging several corpses for burial. One day he went thus to ask for the body of a Kiuvan, but was kept waiting three hours by the King and Chiefs. Among other things, the King said, " You continue to trouble us to give up bodies, which are not costless, but obtained for us by giving muskets, powder, and whales' teeth. The only return for our property is to eat the bodies we get, of which you want to deprive us. At your request, we shall give it to you ; but you ought to be afc part expense of the war in consideration, and I am now ready to enter into an engagement with you to that effect. You speak to me of your God. I know Him not. You say He is a spirit. I cannot tell that. Only, this I know, your religion fails. Thakombau has lotued ; ever since, he has continued to go down, and nothing at all is gained by him ; and neither you nor your religion can screen him ! Protect him, if you can ! If I have not his scalp here before me, do you then inquire of me ! " In spite of this manifestation of bad feeling, the faithful Mis- sionary continued to preach the Gospel to the King, whose mind was evidently greatly agitated, being tossed between his thirst for vengeance and his strong convictions of good. But the bad influence prevailed, and Mr. Moore, though kindly treated, found his teachings less regarded than ever. The Vunivalu, Thakombau, who was advancing well in the practice of Christianity, as was evident from his prohibition of canni- balism, and mercy shown to prisoners of war, sent repeated messages to Ratu Nggara, urging the restoration of peace, and pointing out the disastrous effects of the present quarrel. He also acknowledged the 'evil of his own past life, and invited the Rewan King to embrace the religion of the Gospel. All these communications met with contemp- tuous refusal, and Ratu Nggara boldly defied the God of the Christians to save Mbau from fire, or its master from being clubbed and eaten by the warriors of Rewa. Impatient of delay he upbraided his priest swith the falseness of their predictions of speedy victory. They alleged as a reason the ruinous state of several temples. The temples were accord-