When the time of his own death drew near—I think it was in the year 1852—he gave special injunctions that his wives should on no account fail to accompany him to the spirit-world. Two English missionaries—Mr Calvert and Mr Watsford, who had for years vainly striven to convert this atrocious old heathen—now exerted their whole influence to try and persuade Thakombau to refrain from carrying out his father’s wicked will. These felt that success in this matter would be an earnest of wavering from heathendom on the part of the king. So Mr Calvert offered a princely gift of whale’s teeth, and even to have his own finger cut off (Vaka Viti—_i.e._, Fiji fashion), if only the lives of the women might be spared; but to no purpose. Mr Watsford offered twenty muskets, the mission whale-boat, and all his own personal property; but all in vain. Thakombau had just assumed the title of Tui Viti—King of Viti—and felt that his dignity would suffer by the omission of any customary ceremony. It is the privilege of an eldest son first to strangle his own mother, and then to assist in performing the same kind office for the other widows. So the five ladies were dressed with all pomp, and placed the new cords round their necks as proudly as though they had been precious ornaments; and Thakombau himself assisted the men whose office it was to strangle his mother and the four other women. Out of deference to the white men’s prayer, he offered life to one victim; but she refused it,—not from any love to her cruel lord, but simply because it was the custom of Fiji. So here they all lie side by side, on the green hillock overlooking the broad blue Pacific and the isles where the name of Tanoa was once so sorely dreaded. I turned back to the peaceful, pleasant mission-home, and lingered in the fragrant garden, looking across to Viwa, where the early missionaries established themselves before gaining a footing in Bau. Brave women were the wives of those men; and in many a scene of horror, and many a peril, did they prove themselves helps-meet for the men of earnest purpose whose lot they shared. I will give you one instance of the part they took here in those awful days—not remote days either; for the story I will tell you happened just thirty years ago.