Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/419

PEINTma, TRANSLATION-, AJH) FUBUSHING. 389 In 1848 an American vessel was wrecked among the islands in a hurricane. On board was a young Frenchman, named Edward Martin, who had been for some time in the United States. He was well edu- cated, but, though of Protestant parents, strongly opposed all religious truth. After the wreck, he went to reside among some white men who lived on Vanua Levu. While there, an old English blacksmith died. This man had known the truth, but had led a desperate and lawless life. His death, which was awful with mental anguish and terror, so im- pressed the young Frenchman as to compel him to think seriously of his own unprepared state. He visited Viwa, and was urged to remain there by Mr. Joseph Rees, a young man who had rendered much help to the Missionaries. Mr. Martin gladly consented, and sought, in deep penitence, the salvation which he soon obtained through faith in Christ. Having nothing to do, he asked to be employed, and Mr. Calvert taught him to fold printed sheets, and to stitch and bind books. He then went to presswork and composing, and showed such singular intelligence and aptness, that in a very short time he was an efficient bookbinder and printer. With all this, his religious character became very decided ; and he showed by his affectionate interest in the natives, and his cheerful readiness to help in any way, how fully he sympathized with the Missionaries in their great work. His kind treatment of the natives gave him such influence, that he had no difficulty in procuring hands to help in the printing and binding, while he himself toiled, if necessary, night and day to accomplish the work. Afterwards Mr. Martin rendered great service as an evangelist, and still remains attached to the Mission, as ready as ever to utidergo danger and toil to further its plans. In the schools he has been very useful, and, having married a lady from New Zealand, — a wife worthy of such a devoted man, — he has settled in Fiji, resolving to devote himself altogether to the interests of the Mission. It was mainly through Mr. Martin that the demand for Testaments was met, before the arrival of the Bible Society's edition. The Mission- aries at Viwa revised the first edition ; and Mr. Martin, with some assist- ance, worked off three thousand copies, with three thousand copies extra of Matthew, Romans, and Philippians, as special antidotes to Popery. The following statement will show the principal publications of the Mission press at Viwa. At the close of his life, Mr. Hunt was pre- paring An Explanation of the Christian Religion : comprising its Evi- dences, Doctrines, Duties, and Institutions : in a Course of Lectures. He had gone through the Evidences in nine lectures, and finished twenty on the Doctrines. The work was completed, after his death, by other