62 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
Verani, the chief’s nephew, was a very close friend of 
Thakombau. His name is the Fijian word for France. It 
was given him because he had captured a French ship which 
had visited the islands and murdered its captain and crew. 
“He was in all respects the perfect type of a Fijian warrior, 
excelling most others in heroic courage, brutal ferocity, and 
diabolic cruelty.” He set himself resolutely to oppose the 
mission, and was powerfully supported in this resolve by 
Thakombau. In the course of events, however, Verani was 
led to make investigation into the true character of this new 
religion that had come to his shores. “He treated the mis- 
sionary with respect, and conversed with him frequently.” 
Verani’s attitude induced the Christians to offer special 
prayer on his behalf, and soon the effect of the truth began 
to show itself in his life. 
Just when the missionaries began to hope that Verani 
would renounce heathenism, Thakombau declared war on 
the district of Verata, and requested the chief of Viwa to 
join him. This the chief stoutly refused to do, but Verani 
with many Viwans joined heartily with Thakombau. Great 
numbers of the people of Verata were slain, and with “dread- 
ful shouts” the victors carried the bodies of the slain past 
Viwa on their way to Mbau, where they engaged in the worst 
horrors of cannibal feasting. 
In the midst of all this tumult of war and conflict the mis- 
sionaries toiled on, and had the joy of seeing the influence of 
the gospel continually extended. Their hearts were greatly 
cheered when Verani at last gave evidence of his desire that 
his chief wife should Jotu (worship). She, however, though 
she wished it very much, refused to take the step till her 
savage husband should also have decided. He on his part 
continued his reckless, brutal way, and led others of 
his kind in the perpetration of the most shocking outrages. 
This created a situation of great peril for the Christians 
as they sought to move among these wronged peoples, 
and because of this the friends and adherents of the 
