eir own language, we
began to visit regularly at their villages and to talk to them about
Jesus and His love. We tried also to get them to come to our Church
under the shade of the banyan tree. Nasi and some of the worst
characters would sit scowling not far off, or follow us with loaded
muskets. Using every precaution, we still held on doing our work;
sometimes giving fish-hooks or beads to the boys and girls, showing them
that our objects were kind and not selfish. And however our hearts
sometimes trembled in the presence of imminent death and sank within us,
we stood fearless in their presence, and left all results in the hands
of Jesus. Often have I had to run into the arms of some savage, when his
club was swung or his musket leveled at my head, and, praying to Jesus,
so clung round him that he could neither strike nor shoot me till his
wrath cooled down, and I managed to slip away. Often have I seized the
pointed barrel and directed it upwards, or, pleading with my assailant,
uncapped his musket in the struggle. At other times, nothing could be
said, nothing done, but stand still in silent prayer, asking God to
protect us or to prepare us for going home to His Glory. He fulfilled
His own promise--"I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."

The first Aniwan that ever came to the knowledge and love of Jesus was
the old Chief Namakei. We came to live on his land, as it was near our
diminutive harbor; and, upon the whole, he and his people were the most
friendly, though his only brother, the Sacred Man of the tribe, on two
occasions tried to shoot me. Namakei came a good deal about us at the
Mission House, and helped us to acquire the language. He discovered that
we took tea evening and morning. When we gave him a cup and a piece of
bread, he liked it well, and gave a sip to all around him. At first he
came for the tea, perhaps, and disappeared suspiciously soon thereafter;
but his interest manifestly grew, till he showed great delight in
helping us in every possible way. Along with him and as his associates
came also the Chief Naswai and his wife Katua. These three grew into the
knowledge of the Saviour together. From being savage Cannibals they rose
before our eyes, under the influence of the Gospel, into noble and
beloved characters, and they and we loved each other exceedingly.

Namakei brought his little daughter, his only child, the Queen of her
race, called Litsi Sore (=Litsi the Great), and said, "I want to leav