42 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
they have heard, and have taken the good news to their dif- 
ferent towns and islands. | 
““The general feeling of the people at present is good. 
They only wait for their chiefs to lead the way, and then 
many of them would at once embrace the truth. We preach 
to them every day, and sometimes many times a day to the 
strangers who come out of curiosity to see our dwelling 
house. Until lately, the king’s son (Tuikilakila), who is 
the real sovereign of this place, has maintained a determined 
opposition to Christianity. He has, indeed, allowed us to 
preach and teach the people; but he thought it would be in 
vain, as he had expressed his determination to kill the first 
poor man who should profess our religion. 
“ “But the Lord took care for this also; for it so happened 
that the first person who renounced heathenism and publicly 
worshiped the true God, was the king’s brother, a great chief, 
and the nearest relation of Tuikilakila, except his father. 
He was recommended to embrace Christianity by the king 
himself, in order that his life might be prolonged by the 
power and love of the true God, and the spiritual and tem- 
poral medicine administered by His servants. A few days 
afterward, another chief of high rank followed the example 
of the king’s brother, no doubt for the same reason, and soon 
after another man of some respectability; and about the same 
time a poor girl, whom we delivered from the murderous 
hands of a chief who was about to strangle her because she 
was ill. 
“<The great reason why these people are disposed to re- 
ceive Christianity, is that they may possess bodily health. 
However, we are thankful for this beginning, feeble as it 
is; and uncertain as it may seem, that those who embrace 
our holy religion in order to be restored to health will con- 
tinue to serve the Lord when that object is accomplished, 
yet even by such a beginning the way is open for many to 
receive instruction, who were before afraid, because all the 
powerful chiefs were heathens. 
