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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 1

Hopes and Fears

Hopes and Fears.

It was well that, during the last hours of the Rewa Chief, he was not able to speak; so that he could not give the usual dying advice for revenge, which is considered so binding. This preventive to peace, therefore, was out of the way.

However, shortly after his death, Mara, who had been absent, returned. He was mortified at not having been waited for and consulted about peace; and, during his absence, he had formed an intimacy with the daughter of the late King of Bau, his reputed sister, whom he knew he could not marry if he made peace with Bau. All his desires and professions for peace were now laid aside, and he went about in every direction to stir up the remains of evil, to prevent peace between Rewa and Bau if possible, and to be himself the head of more active warfare with Bau than that which the late King of Rewa had carried on. He said they would now fight in earnest.

The burning of the Mission-premises, and the return of Mr. Moore to Rewa, however, led many to desire peace and lotu, as they believed that they must lose their Missionary if Rewa again engaged in war. This proved a great stimulus to those who were peaceably disposed; and, indeed, in a great measure confirmed the steps that had already been taken. But yet Mara had many adherents in the dominions of Rewa; * he retained all the Bau towns that had revolted; and he, being closely united with all Ovalau and the Whites there, was a formidable opponent. Besides this, he made further attempts to get the Bau fishermen to join him.

* It is a remarkable fact, that the presence of the Romish Priests in Rewa, of whom the once-famous Father Mathew, of Ireland, is one, appears to have had no influence on either the Heathen or Christian party.