Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/513

VIWA AND MBATJ. 479 in cannibal Fiji, — which was some relief to my mind. And then I felt very thankful to Him who had preserved me to labour more than fifteen years, in which I had been employed in rough and dangerous work. It seemed to me an appropriate end of my labours in Fiji. But how gracious, how wise, how powerfd, my Deliverer ! Again I am rescued, and privileged -svith restoration to my family and labours. '• 7th. — I went to ^Ibau. I felt stiff and tired, having been wet in my legs from twelve at noon to twelve at night, as I had to get into the water vriih the crew several times in coming to Viwa in the canoe. When about to leave Mbau at three p. m., Mr. Waterhouse asked me to remain and preach. After the service, it was later than desirable for me to be out, so I slept at Mbau." Very soon after this, Mr. Calvert visited Lakemba, to assist in the examination and ordination of Native Assistant Missionaries, and to procure agents to help on the other side of the group. On this journey he was nearly shipwrecked at the entrance of the Lakemba reef. He availed himself of his stay here to procure a quantity of property wherewith to acknowledge the clemency of the people who had spared his life. These people did not belong to Moturiki, but had come there from Ndravuni and Koroi Rokoseru, which places, he knew, were not friendly to Mbau and Viwa. Having obtained a good supply of native cloth and mosquito curtains, which were greatly valued in the islands to leeward, Mr. Calvert, on his return, went, accompanied by some Viwa people, to present the offering at Ndravimi. It was received with every expression of satisfaction, and pigs and yams were bountifully provided for the entertainment of the visitors. A good feeling was thus set up between the Ndravuni people and the Viwans, and a friendly intercourse was established from that time. Another result was, that a Teacher was received at Ndravuni, whence one had formerly been driven away. But further and more important good grew out of this matter. In the following December, the towns along fifty miles of the coast of the mainland next to ^Ibau had engaged to join the enemy, and thus bring the war close to Mbau, and make its destruction certain. In this revolt Ndravuni, which was only seven miles from Mbau, was to have taken the lead ; but the recent friendly intercourse with Viwa prevented the success of the plot, so that, when the other towns fell away, Ndravuni and Koroi Rokoseru remained firm in their allegiance to Mbau. The enemy, who had risen to great power, and had spread devastation and bloodshed everywhere, were disappointed and enraged to find themselves met by a stout resistance where they had reckoned