Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/496

462 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. twenty pounds ; and Mr. Calvert, in Fijian style, offered to have a finger cut off, if their lives might be spared. As the old King rapidly weakened, the Missionaries became more importunate in their pleadings w^ith his son, and more frequently warned him of the enormity of the crime he purposed ; while they showed him, as he acknowledged that they were right, that he had now the very best possible opportunity of overthrowing, by one act of his great power, and in the face of all Fiji, one of the most horrible institutions that cursed his people. While Thakombau fully acknowledged the truth and justice of what they said, they could draw no promise from him. He was conscious, in his am- bition and pride, that he stood on an elevation of power higher than any Chief had reached before ; and that consciousness made him cling more jealously to every point of native honour and dignity, however his own convictions might lead in an opposite direction. On one occasion he reproved a Chief who found fault with the interference of the Mission- aries, saying that they were right in what they did, and even telling them to persevere in their efforts. The intended victims were already known, and Thakombau desired the Missionaries to visit them. They di:l so, and found them apparently resolved to die. . On the 6th of December, jIr. Calvert was called away to Ovalau, by intelligence of sickness in the jMission family there. The next day Mr. Watsford went to Mbau alone, and found all the women at the King's house weeping. The selected victims were pointed out, with their friends weeping over them ; and he warned them faithfully of the punishment that awaited the wicked in another world ; to which one of them boldly answered, " Who fears hell-fire'? We shall jump in there the day the King dies." Passing into the principal house, he was still more shocked to see Thakombau's wife and some more women preparing the dresses for the others to wear on the day of their death, whereby he knew that some were to be sacrificed. Mr. Wats- ford went at once to the young King, and found him among his assembled Chiefs, where, once more, the solemn warnings were faith- fully spoken ; but in vain. The Missionary then returned to Viwa, but soon crossed over again to Mbau, where he remained till mid- night, trying to save the women. Before leaving, he backed his last appeal by offering the new whale-boat belonging to the Mission, twenty muskets, and all his own personal property ; but still in vain. Early the next morning, he went back to Mbau, and found- that Tanoa was dead. Hastening on to the house w^here he lay, Mr. Watsford saw six biers standing at the door, from which he knew that jive victims, at least, were to accompany their dead lord to the grave.