Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/575

NANDI. 637 The efforts of the Missionary were successful. Several of the mem- bers died very happy ; and among the survivors were many who were earnest and prayerful Christians. The schools also flourished, and the people were industrious. During the following year, Mr. Hazlewood, having married again, was waiting at Sydney, anxious to return to his work, when William Owen, Esq., of Adelaide, whose generous kindness has been recorded more than once in this history, called with Mrs. Owen, on his way to Fiji, in his large brigantine, the " Packet." Though not connected with the Wesleyans, Mr. and Mrs. Owen very kindly undertook to convey Mr. and Mrs. Hazlewood to their sphere of labour for a mere acknowl- edgment in money ; and, in good-will to the Mission cause and to Fiji, Mr. Owen generously and willingly engaged to take two horses free of charge. Mr. Hazlewood procured a good pair of horses, and in Sep- tember, 1851, they were safely landed from the " Packet " at Nandi. Some of the natives had been on board, and had for the first time in their lives seen a horse. Their minds had not realized the size of the animal from the pictures of horses that had been shown them, and they went on shore and reported respecting the wonderful animals that were on board the ship. General excitement prevailed at the towns near, and a great muster gathered on the beach on the day of landing. But now the natives were terrified, and ran away through fear. On the following day, Messrs. Hazlewood and Moore rode inland, and were met by natives from inland towns, who were affrighted on beholding the Mis- sionaries marching along in an exalted and unknown and unheared-of manner with four legs. The horses were very useful in times of weak- ness, and in conveying the Missionaries from towns about the islands. They were also useful in aj'ourney of more than twenty miles through the bush to Mbua, after a road was cleared for them. The report of the strange animals had reached Mbua ; but the people were not the less astonished, and many of them, though anxious to see for them- selves, were terrified if approached by a horse. They would jump into the river, run up cocoa-nut trees, and climb houses, for safety, while the animal passed their place. Four of the Mission Stations are now supplied from this pair ; and soon any of the principal native Chiefs may be supplied from the same source. As yet they are not used for agriculture ; but there are extensive and rich flats of country by the sides of rivers, which, no doubt, at a later period, when the islands shall be in an improved state, will be cultivated by other than hand labour, and furnish large supplies of tropical produce to the Australasian Colonies.