Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 1

Christian Conduct of Tui Viti, and Death of the King of Rewa

Christian Conduct of Tui Viti, and Death of the King of Rewa.

The Vunivalu went on well in his lotu. The bodies of enemies who were killed and brought to him, he returned to their friends for burial; and spared the lives of some who were taken alive, and returned them in safety to their own towns. He refrained from aggression, and desired and sought peace. He twice sent messages to the King of Rewa, telling him that Heathenism depopulated places, and destroyed Chiefs; as a proof of which many Rewans were missing, and he was the only Chief of rank remaining in Rewa. He said he had become Christian, lamented his past bad conduct, and no longer desired to act as he had done hitherto; that religion was true and useful; and he begged that the King of Rewa would become Christian, and consent to the establishment of peace. This advice and request the Rewa Chief indignantly rejected, as he did also the exhortations of his Missionary, saying he would burn Bau in a very short time, and kill and eat the Chief; that it was a very favourable opportunity for ending the ten years' fight with high honour to himself; that he was confident of being able to avenge himself, and therefore firmly and contemptuously refused all offers for peace. More than this: he defied the Lord Jehovah's power to screen the doomed one from the clubs and stomachs of his warriors. However much he had suffered from man, he was evidently now on a dangerous course, He built two new temples, presented offerings to his gods, and ordered the lotu-drum not to be beaten, or Divine service celebrated at the usual place, lest his gods should be offended. Though kind, to Mr. Moore in many things, he would not yield to instruction and advice; but was determined to go on with the war, make special efforts to gain additional help from his gods in which he trusted, and rely upon the numbers who had become his adherents. Neglecting the constant exhortations of his indefatigable Missionary, and the kind and earnest entreaties of his humbled rival, he was now put into the school of affliction; but he continued to harden his heart, and he was cut off by dysentery on the 26th of January.