258 The Triumphs of the Gospel in Fiji, 
the mission-house in a terrible fury, threatening to kill Mr. 
Lyth, there and then. He laid hold of Mr. Hunt with one 
hand, and Mr. Lyth with the other, as if undecided which 
to despatch first. He pulled them both outside the door, 
but they earnestly and kindly remonstrated with him, show- 
ing that they had no other intention in residing there than 
to do him and his people good. At length their concili- 
atory words prevailed; and after contenting himself with 
giving Mr. Lyth a furious slap in the face, the angry giant 
strode away for that time. Tuikilakila was very subject to 
these fits of passion, and on such occasions would strike 
down everything which came in his way. On the other 
hand, if pleased and feeling amiable, he would go to the 
mission-house, and help himself to any of the food in course 
of preparation, never heeding the fact that he was depriving 
the families of the strangers of much-needed support. 
Occasionally, too, he would drop in to watch the mission 
family eat, and would even thrust his face so close to the 
missionary so especially favoured with his attentions, that 
the contents of the plate would sometimes be swept off by 
the chief's beard. Endless long-sufiering and unfailing faith 
were needed at Somo Somo, at that time. 
At length, things grew worse and worse, until the mission 
party was openly told that they were to be killed. The 
chief and people had daily been getting more impatient with 
the message, and more full of hatred against the teachers, 
who were the bearers of that message of salvation. One 
night, a council was held in order to determine the time 
and manner of the massacre ; and as if to bring home the 
sense of danger, this council sat just outside the large, 
gloomy building, used as the dwelling of the missionaries. 
The walls were of reed, as was the case with all buildings 
in Fiji and were open to the intrusion of any prying eyes. 
