54 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
“Tn terrible dreams he was haunted with the thought that 
the affliction was in consequence of his persecution of Chris- 
tianity and his attempt to kill the missionaries; so he came, 
greatly humbled, to the station, and sought a dwelling among 
the Tongans, where he might have proper treatment, receiv- 
ing daily supplies of food from his own friends. He feared 
that he was going to die; and being removed from his former 
companions, and brought entirely under Christian influence, 
and attending constantly at family worship, the heart of the 
cruel persecutor became softened, and he spoke with gen- 
uine contrition of all his past evil, inquiring eagerly for the 
way of salvation. 
“Being urged to pray to God for mercy, he asked to be 
taught words fit for prayer, saying, “Great is my desire to 
pray to God; but I know not what words to take up.’ He 
was encouraged to tell simply all he felt to that good and 
all-knowing God, who would mercifully help him, if he was 
sincere. Hearing of a poor man named Savea who, having 
been cured of a loathsome disease, had become a Christian, 
Matanambamba sought an interview with him, inquiring with 
great interest about his case. 
“‘Savea said: ‘I was friendless, forsaken, destitute, and 
treated as a dog; but I fled to the servants of God, swal- 
lowed much medicine, and trusted in the Lord. When I 
lay only, I used to pray. When it was night, I prayed. 
When morning came, I prayed; and by doing this I got well.’ 
“Matanambamba was pleased with this simple testimony, 
and though Savea was a common person, with whom once 
he would have scorned to associate, yet now he said to him, 
‘From this time let you and me be friends.’ 
“God made the medicine successful, and the chief recov- 
ered. He prayed very earnestly for mercy, confessing that 
he had been ‘a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious,’ 
a chief sinner, even among the Fijians. In this state he 
was led to put faith in the atonement of Christ, and received 
the remission of his sins.” 
