240 The Triumphs of the Gospel in Fiji, 
the moral and spiritual condition of their Fijian neighbours. 
Towards the end of 1834, two of the Wesleyan missionaries, 
Rev. David Cargill and Rev. W. Cross, were appointed to 
learn Tongan, and to commence a new mission in Fiji. 
They at once placed themselves in readiness to obey the 
command, and commenced studying the language, in order 
to fit themselves for entrance upon the work. They also 
prepared a catechism, an alphabet, and an easy lesson book, 
in Fijian, printed them at the Tongan mission press, and 
awaited the first chance of reaching their new sphere of 
labour. The Tongan native teachers had been sent to the 
Fijian islands, in 1830, by the Rev. John Williams ; but 
although settled at Oneata, under the protection of a chief, 
they had not attained any great success in teaching the 
people. Still, their conduct was good, and, without doubt, 
had its influence upon the natives. 
The schooner Blackbird took Messrs. Cargill and Cross 
and their families to Lakemba, in October, 1835. The 
king of Tonga had sent a chief with the missionaries, in 
order to intercede with the chief of Lakemba, on behalf of 
the new teachers and their work. Besides this, the mission 
aries could speak Tongan well, and were acquainted with 
many Fijian words ; there was, therefore, much to encourage 
them in the commencement of their intercourse with the 
natives. The almost insuperable difficulty of winning their 
way among a people with whom they could hold no inter- 
course, was abolished in this case ; and when they landed on 
the shore of Lakemba, the people were amazed to hear from 
the lips of the two white men, greetings m a familiar tongue. 
They passed through crowds of natives, armed and black- 
ened according to custom, and went direct to the king's 
house, which was situated some little distance inland, the 
families and friends meanwhile watching the proceedings 
