258 - The Truunphs of the Gospel in Fiji. 
So years went on. No mission could be established on 
Mbau, because the chief constantly refused to build a 
mission-house, and when pressed to decide for himself on 
the great question, would say, " Wait until I have finished 
all my wars, then I will lotu,''^ At last, in 1850, a cousin of 
the king, a chief of high rank, lotucd^ and this roused the 
king^s ire. War broke out between the people of Mbau, 
and the people of Verata \ and although the missionary, and 
Elijah Verani, a converted chief, interceded powerfully, they 
could not wholly prevent the customary terrible accompani- 
ments of war. Ngavindi, a chief who assisted Thakombau, 
was shot dead, and at his funeral some women were stran- 
gled. Mr. Calvert, as usual, reproved the king faithfully, 
and told him that " the wicked should be turned into hell." 
He then left him in an uneasy frame of mind. After this, 
war broke out on Vanua Levu, between the natives of 
Nandy, and Mbau ; and as it was waged avowedly against 
the lotu^ Mr. Calvert feared much that, ere long, all the 
Christians in Fiji would be exposed to the rancour and 
cruelty of those who hated Christianity. So he made his 
way to Thakombau, beseeching him to interfere and put a 
stop to the war, — which he could have done, as the most 
powerful chief. But he flatly refused to interfere in order 
to protect the Christians, saying, **When I ask you lotu 
people to help me in war, you say, ' No, it is not lawful for 
Christians to fight.' Now, you have a fight of your own, 
and I am glad of it. Besides, I hate your Christianity 1 
Well, seeing you do hate it,'V returned Mr. Calvert, " what 
are you going to do with it? Do you intend to stop its 
progress.^" "No,*' was the answer. cannot do that. 
I know that it is true and the work of God, and that we 
shall all become Christians ; but, in the meantime, I delight 
in you Christians being compelled to engage in war as well 
