Hozv the Gospel was First Carried, 249 
Being a local preacher, he was accustomed to proclaim the 
Gospel j so upon receipt of the request of the Ono messen- 
gers for a teacher, Isaac was sent to the island, to take 
charge of the infant Church there. It was in the commence- 
ment of 1838, that Isaac reached Ono, and by that date, 
about a hundred and twenty adults had fully renounced 
idolatry, and were living Christian lives to all intents and 
purposes. These welcomed their new teacher, and supplied 
him plentifully with food and clothing in return for his 
instructions. The Tongan crew of the canoe which had 
drifted to Vatoa, had instructed them hitherto; and so 
anxiously had the people desired teaching, that they scarcely 
permitted their teachers to rest either by day or night. 
Soon after Isaac's appointment, another teacher was sent to 
Ono to assist him, and all supplies of books and catechisms 
which could be spared from Lakemba, were freely sent. 
In August, 1839, the white missionaries sent other help 
to Ono, so that the staff of teachers was increased to four. 
At this time the number of converts had increased to over 
three hundred and twenty, three chapels had been erected 
in different parts of the island ; while all the inhabitants of 
Vatoa, the nearest island, also professed Christianity. Had 
it been possible, a white missionary would have gone to the 
island to superintend the work ; but as there were only six 
white missionaries to carry on the work in eighty islands, 
no one could be spared for so small a centre of operations 
as Ono. Still, Mr. Calvert determined to embrace the first 
opportunity of visiting the people. He was now the only 
missionary on Lakemba, — Mr. Cross having removed to 
Rewa, — and he could not bring himself to leave Mrs. Calvert 
alone among a population chiefly heathen, and led by a 
king whose predilections and tastes were all in favour of 
heathenism. Twenty islands constituted his " Circuit," and 
