How the Gospel Triuinphed, 
287 
were fearful obstacles to the progress of the mission ; yet 
solid progress was made. In the absence of positive 
evangelistic teaching among the people at large, books 
were issued from the mission printing-press, in four different 
Fijian dialects. These went out over the land, speaking 
the truth where the missionary's voice could never be 
heard ; while the few steadfast Christians who composed 
the Rewan Church, lived lives of singular devotedness, and 
self-denial. Thus, much seed of the kingdom was sown, 
which sprung up and bore much fruit in after-days. The 
leaven of the Gospel was surely but slowly spreading, 
although for a long time hidden beneath a heathen exterior 
of morals and manners. 
In 1856, the missionary wrote as follows, of the Rewa 
circuit, with its many branches : — " There are full sixty 
thousand people in Fiji, who have bowed the knee to 
Jehovah, besides thousands more who will shortly be num- 
bered among us, for the people say, * The lotu will come, 
and it is no use our trying to push it back again.' In this 
Rewa circuit, we have twenty-one thousand professing 
Christians, and every week brings us additional numbers. 
Our Testaments are going off at a fine rate. The people 
are getting on well with their reading. We shall be ready 
for the English edition before you get it through the press. 
What a treasure it will be ! 
" Yet, Fiji is not saved. More than half this circuit are 
still heathen, killing, devouring each other daily. Not more 
than twenty miles from this mission-house, twenty men 
were killed this month, and eaten. More missionaries are 
required. There must be no retreat. Just now we require 
all the help we can get." 
