122 A MISSION TO VITI. 
There was a serious quarrel between the Chief of the 
Fishermen and Ratu Abel, the King’s eldest son, the 
former having insulted the Queen, and the latter sent 
him a challenge in consequence. A duel was impend- 
ing when we arrived, and the British Consul’s persuasive 
powers were appealed to by various parties. Mr. Prit- 
chard publicly asked the Chief of the Fishermen why 
he had offered the insult to his sovereign, but he re- 
fused to answer; Mr. Pritchard then told him he would 
wait for an answer, even if he had to sit up all night. 
The Chief, seeing that the Consul was as good as his 
word, and that there was no escape possible, after a si- 
lence of two hours gave the desired answer, begged the 
King’s pardon, and all was arranged amicably. Ratu 
Abel was present during the whole interview, and be- 
haved extremely well in the affair. He is a fine specimen 
of a Fijian prince, and will doubtless succeed his father 
to the throne, though some of the missionaries have 
been trying to persuade the King to change the law, by 
settling the succession upon his younger son, born after 
he had become converted to Christianity, and married 
according to our rites. But such a change would doubt- 
less lead to endless complications and confusion, and 
be unjust towards a child perfectly legitimate accord- 
ing to the custom prevailing at the time of his birth. 
It is in petty interferences like these that, doubtless 
much to the regret of the enlightened minds composing 
the Board directing the truly grand machinery of the 
Wesleyan Society, the missionaries draw upon themselves 
the censure of people who fully sympathize with the 
noble work they have in hand, and who would do any- 
