VERANI AS A CHRISTIAN 69 
and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his 
troubles.’ 
“Verani continued in prayer day after day, until he found 
salvation by faith in Christ’s atonement, and went out before 
his fellows a changed man, rejoicing in the blessedness of 
having his iniquity forgiven. He now verified the judgment 
of his heathen friend, and became a thorough Christian, 
using every effort to lead others to the same gladness which 
filled his own heart. 
“About a month after his conversion he had an interview 
with Thakombau on board a trading vessel lying off the 
coast. Verani told him all he knew and felt of religion; 
and when he had done, the chief said, ‘Go on, go on!’ The 
next day he visited him again, and told him that the Chris- 
tians would obey all his commands, if right; but they would 
do nothing wrong, and could not take part in cruel and bar- 
barous wars. The chief said, “Very good: you stay at home, 
and learn your book well;’ and promised that he would even- 
tually lotu. 
“Though Verani refused, on behalf of himself and the 
Christians, to engage in war, saying, ‘I have already fought 
too much: I have done now;’ yet his was too earnest and 
active a nature to remain idle. But he had now espoused 
another cause. One day, less than two months after his con- 
version, Verani ordered his great war canoe to be launched, 
but not to go on its old work of bloodshed and crime. A 
dark day was it, in time past, for some town or island, when 
the great sail of that canoe went up to the wild shouts of 
the painted warriors who thronged the deck; but it was far 
otherwise now. Verani, with his energy of soul directed by 
the new power of love to God and man, was setting sail to 
carry the missionary to the distant islands under his charge; 
and wherever the war canoe of the dreaded chieftain touched, 
it brought ‘the fullness of the blessing of the gospel’ of peace. 
“The sound conversion of this man was a great help to 
the mission. His decision for God, his marriage to one wife, 
