Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/509

VIWA AND MBAF. 4Y5 were struck with amazement, on receiving this man back safely, wear- ing a new dress which had been given him by the Mbau King. Further overtures of peace were made, but met only with defiant rejection. The speedy destruction of Mbau was determined, and seemed unavoid- able. Nevertheless, Mr. and Mrs. Waterhouse dwelt in the centre of the danger, where they were loved and sought after by the people. It required no small amount of courage to remain ; but God gave to His faithful servants grace sufficient for them, and they were made a great blessing to many. At Ovalau, among the enemies of Mbau, the Mission still held on. Mr. and Mrs. Binner arrived there from Lakemba in December, 1853, to take charge of the schools, whereby Mr. Calvert's toil was much lightened. Neither had he to expose himself to so much danger in passing to and fro among the warring parties. His acknowledged friendship to Thakombau, and his protest against the schemes for his destruction, made him an object of suspicion and dislike to the other side, so that his life was frequently threatened, and his visits to Ovalau made dangerous. One night, after he had preached there, once in English and twice in the native language, to very large congregations of Fijians and half-castes, several men came in front of Mr. Binner's house with muskets and clubs, and called for Mr. Calvert to go out to them. They were fierce mountaineers, who had come for purposes of murder. It was a night of fearful anxiety ; but God protected His servant, and brought him safely the next day to Viwa. In June, Mr. Calvert was placed in great jeopardy, while endeavouring to do good and make peace. His own account of the affair is thus given in a letter to the General Secretaries, dated Viwa, July 26th, 1854 : — " We are still surrounded by war, which approaches nearer to us. The end, I judge, draws near. It is remarkable that all parties think about religion, and desire to have Missionaries or Teachers. The great enemy is manifestly much dissatisfied with the state of light and feeling, and is bent upon destroying what he cannot much longer peaceably retain. " I have had much sailing during the year. On the 27th of May, I went to Levuka in my boat to meet an American Captain, who had brought us some timber and goods, and in order that I might take the services in native and English on the following day. On my arrival, the Mountaineer who effected Elijah's death wished to kill two of my boat's crew. " June 1st. — The Levuka Chief wished me not to sail till after the Moturiki fight, which took place on the 31st. This was an aggressive 31