Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/559

MBFA. 621 Chief waited on me this morning, and brought a head of turtle-shell as his lote, and made a speech on behalf of himself and the head Chief, which was in effect that they wished a Missionary to go and live with them, and then all in Mouta would become Christians. This is the call from every quarter. God has given us favour in the sight of the people ; and in no place in the whole world could money be spent more for the benefit of the human race, nor Missionaries labour in a field where they could bring a larger revenue of glory to God, than in Fiji at this day. The work is marvellous and overwhelming. Surely Christians in England who have loved Fiji so long, and have^iven so much, will do yet more, and make an effort to send a reinforcement of Missionaries, seeing that their Lord has honoured them so highly by giving such success to their efforts. It fills our hearts with gratitude, and tears of joy swim in our eyes, while we see what God hath wrought. Every day schools are conducted in temples, once heathen, into which if a woman or a little girl had entered a short time ago, they would have been laid bleeding victims on the threshold ; we walk over ovens in which men were regularly cooked, but they are filled up, and yams are growing around them ; we pass by houses in which human beings were eaten, but now we hear the voice of praise and prayer ; we visit the sick, and we hear them say that they are passing away to be with Jesus. " The Teachers and many of the people are making earnest and frequent inquiries when they will receive the whole Bible, and are rejoiced when informed that at no dis- tant period it will be in their possession. "We trust that the Rev. J. Calvert and the Editorial Superintendent of the British and Foreign Bible Society will be strengthened to accomplish their great work, and that they, with all who help, will be very abundantly blessed in their labour of love." " December. — To-day a canoe has arrived from Somosomo, with a Tongan on board, who reports that more to^iis have lotued in that island than all the men in Nasavu could supply, if they were all Teachers. In some places the natives have built chapels with pulpits; but there is no Missionary to occupy them, or to proclaim salvation to the crowds who are desirous of fleeing from the wrath to come. The tears trembled in the eyes of the man who brought these tidings, as he told us that the people at Koroivonu assembled m great numbers on the Sabbath after their chapel had been completed, filling the chapel, and standing under the shadow of some bread-fruit trees in front, waiting to hear a sermon ; but there was no Preacher. This is not a solitary case at this time in these islands ; and there is no remedy, unless you send us help. " We are training Teachers as fast as we can, but cannot fit them for the work in sufficient numbers for the demand. The work is spreading in Ovalau : in Mbau and Rewa, also, it grows ; and in the latter place a truly spiritual work has commenced among those who were merely nominal professors. At Nandronga, Mr. Moore reports that a remarkable revival has broken out ; and he is, as you may suppose, full of joy because of the marvellous doings of his Omnipotent Lord. A canoe from Na Viti Levu and Rakiraki lately brought an urgent request for help to the towns in that quarter, along with the painful intelligence that Moses, our only Teacher in all that populous