wish at once was
to extend the sphere of their labours.

"In April, 1831, King George, now himself well able to expound the
gospel, with twenty-four sail of canoes, visited Finau, chief of Vavau,
who had once sent for instruction to the missionaries at Tonga. With
the king went the faithful missionary Peter, bearing a letter from
Messrs. Thomas and Turner. King George, too, endeavoured to convince
Finau of the truth, and at length he promised to join in worshipping the
Lord on the next sabbath. This he did accompanied by several chiefs and
others; and when Monday came he directed that seven of his principal
idols should be placed in a row. He then addressed them: `Listen to my
words, that you may be without excuse. I have brought you here to prove
you.' Commencing with the first, he said, `If you are a god, run away,
or you shall be burned in the fire which is ready for you.' The idol
made no attempt to escape. In the same manner he addressed the next,
and the next, till he came to the last. As none of them ran, he
directed that their temples should be set on fire. The order was at
once obeyed, and some eighteen or more with their idols were consumed.
George and all his people capable of explaining the truths of
Christianity, were employed in preaching and speaking night and day
during their stay, so eager were the people to be instructed. All
ordinary occupation was suspended. The reply to any expostulation was,
`We can labour when you are gone: let us while you stay learn how to
worship God.' Afterwards two native teachers were sent to Vavau, till a
missionary could be spared for them.

"Finau, who had himself once strongly opposed the Christians, now met
with opposition from one of his own chiefs, who had been absent at Fiji.
This chief threw himself into a strong fort; but it was surprised by
the Christians, and the insurgents being brought out, it was burnt to
the ground, without one person being killed. Mr Cross was soon
afterwards appointed to Vavau, and on his voyage there from Tonga his
canoe was wrecked, and his wife was drowned besides twenty other
persons.

"It was about this time that the Reverend William Yate, of the Church
Missionary Society, visited Tonga from New Zealand. He had heard much
of the great change among the people, and was disposed to regard part at
least as too strange and too good to be true. He therefore went much
among the people, observing their domestic habits, and