down from their lofty position in the south, and, with the hosts around them, lending us their aid to bear the cheering news to the wakeful natives who stood on the shore, and to the anxious Missionfamilies. We retired, thankful to the Lord, who had delivered us out of great trouble, because "his mercy endureth for ever."

October 2d. I went over to the imperial city of Bau, with Mr. Hunt and several Missionaries. Here we saw the élite of Feejee. The King says, that the lotu is near, but that he has a few more towns to burn, before he and his warriors lotu. Bau is a small island, not containing more than two hundred acres ; but the town contains nearly one thousand souls, most of whom are Chiefs, and the houses are far superior to anything else I have seen in the South-Sea Islands. The large double canoe of the King will carry from two to three hundred men; and they are just now preparing to start on some warlike expedition. Their spirit-houses are finely ornamented; but when I told one of the Priests that unless Jehovah saved him from the burning fire, no other god was able to do so, he fell into a passion, and we left him. The men paint themselves, and both they and their many wives go nearly naked. We have preaching at Bau, and shall, by God's blessing, soon have a Missionary there. Bau is the lion of Feejee; and dark are the deeds of which it is guilty. It sends out its little war-parties, who fall upon men, women, and children, as the case may be, and the carnage is all their own. I do not find that Feejeeans are at all celebrated for courage; but quite the contrary their way is to fall upon the defenceless, and to overcome by numbers, rather than by personal bravery. It is, however, very encouraging to observe a gradual melting down of this icy mountain, and a breaking-up of their iron system of cruel tyranny. The light is breaking in upon them, and the power of the truth is felt by many.

REMOVAL OF THE MISSIONARIES FROM SOMOSOMO.

We have withdrawn the Missionaries from Somosomo, by the united voice of the whole body of Feejeean Missionaries. The old King behaved very well, and opposed no difficulty in the way of their removal, as some of us had apprehended. He said, "The wars are not yet ended, and there is no use in your staying here. I shall be glad for you to come again,

and we will all lotu then." Messrs. Lyth and Calvert, who went over to assist in the removal of our brethren, could see a marked improvement in this people, and are fully persuaded that our labours there have not been in vain, although the influence has only been partial and indirect. Messrs. Williams and Hazlewood felt much at leav. ing this place and people, and would not have done so, but for the authority of the District-Meeting. We have none of us any doubt of the whole matter being right in the sight of the Lord, as far as we are concerned, in reference to the removal of these suffering servants of Christ. What the result will be to Somosomo, time will show; but the natives say that the people will now be cut off, because their protection is removed from them. Both Christians and Heathens say that this is a thing not to be called in question. Messrs. Williams and Hazlewood say,

"In the month of January we were permitted to witness a remarkable movement in favour of Christianity. There was a shaking among the dry bones. We thought breath was entering into them, and that they would live. The emotion was not a thing of a day: it continued some time, and in a greater or less degree pervaded all classes. Since the occupancy of this Station, the Somosomo people have more than once said, that the time of their becoming Christians was near; not that they desired it, but because they thought circumstances would induce their Chief to become a Christian and then they, as a matter of course, would become Christians too. But the present movement was of a different kind. It had more of principle in it. Some of the people desired liberty of conscience, and an effort was made to obtain it.

:

"Tuiilaila was informed by persons composing part of his council, that several of his subjects wished to abandon Hea thenism, and requested his undisguised permission to do so. He was also asked to allow all who chose to become Christians. On hearing this, we were greatly revived. We thought the many prayers offered for the prosperity of the work here, were now to be answered, and we said, 'Better days and brighter prospects break upon us.'

"It was an easy thing for Tuiilaila to deny his being an obstacle to his people becoming Christians; and he did so; and, to support his assertion, ordered his favourite wife and some others to lotu This, however, was only a feint, designed

to quiet the unwelcome visiters; and this cheering glimpse of a better state of affairs ended in a stronger confirmation, that Tuiilaila maintains a determined opposition to the cause of Christ, not the less effectual for being partially covert.

"Several islands and districts have been visited, and generally our message has been well received. We are disposed to the opinion, that if Tuiilaila would withdraw his opposition, we should quickly have a call for Teachers from six different places in this Circuit.

"War continues to occupy a large share of the people's time and attention. But the language of Isaiah is applicable to them, 'For the leaders of this people cause them to err.'

"The Lord has been very mindful of his servants, and of their families; and, whilst endeavouring to serve him, he has blessed us with bread and water, and defended us in the hour of danger. Though painfully conscious of the absence of that success which we earnestly desire, and which we feel warranted to expect, we have proceeded with our labours, remembering the injunction, In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.""

I received the following letter, in the Tonga language, from our excellent Teacher at Nakorotumba. He came from Tonga a long time since, and is useful in Feejee." Mr. Lawry, I, Paul Vea, I like to make known that I very much like your face. I rejoice exceedingly to hear that you have come to this land, and I desire to come and see you; but I am very much engaged in the work. Love to you from my heart and mouth. The love of truth to thee, Mr. Lawry, my father in the Gospel. Come thou, that I may look upon thee, and also the lotu people here. This is the end. Oct. 1st, 1847."

Sunday, 3d.-I held the usual worship at sunrise; took breakfast a little before seven; and attended the public preaching at half-past eight, which was followed by a love-feast. The natives spoke freely, though not in so lively a way as they sometimes do. Mr. Hunt, at my request, set down the following

LOVE FEAST TESTIMONIES.

He remarks, "The speeches at the love-feast were not characterized by much that is striking. The principal thing

that struck me was the entire absence of all boasting and self-confidence, a simple dependence on the Saviour, and love to him, his servants, and his cause; with a desire, sometimes feelingly expressed, that their friends might all enjoy the blessing of salvation."

1. The first speaker was an aged man, named Paul, a man of much simplicity of character, and one of the first who embraced Christianity: what he said was to this effect :-"I shall speak my mind about Jesus. When Wesley and Mr. Cross came, we embraced Christianity. The lotu in my mind has been something like a tree, that grows up by degrees, and grows quite straight; it is not turned aside by anything. Such is my mind, nothing turns it out of the way. I am happy in the lotu. I think much of my friends who do not lotu. On their account I am pained; but in the lotu I rejoice. I rejoice in mind and heart, because the Missionaries have come to our land. I have found the benefit of being a Christian. I know the love of God in Christ. I was a bad man; but God loved me. The wind blows on me, that is, the evil words of men; but I am like the tree that moves not. I praise God only. I wish to get to heaven. I am afraid of hell. I only wish to live that I may hear the word of God, that by it I may be convinced of all that is evil, and put it away. I rejoice that Missionaries are here, that I may hear the preached word. I cannot read; but the word I hear from the Missionaries is the food of my soul. Such is my mind."

2. The next in order who spoke was Lydia, the wife of the Chief of Vewa. She is a woman of high rank, being nearly related to the King of Bau, and was for a length of time, after she became a professing Christian, a very trouble. some woman. She was, however, truly converted on Whit-Sunday, 1844, and since that time has been "walking in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost." What she said was to the following effect:-"I wish to speak my mind, and I wish to say that I know God is true. If he had deceived me, I would say so; but he has not; I have proved his faithfulness. I desire Jesus. God is near me every day. I do not wish to have the praise of men. I wish to put away sin, because it is offensive to God. I wish to trust in Jesus, and to love him. I rejoice in being where the Missionaries reside. It is the custom of our Chiefs to send their daughters to different lands. I rejoice that I was sent to Vewa, that I might find religion. I

desire to be in earnest, because of what Jesus has done for me. Such is my mind."

3. The next who spoke was a person who has been with Mr. Williams at Somosomo in the capacity of a servant : his name is Bartimiuse (Bartimeus). He said, "I have peace with God. I rejoice in going to Somosomo. We have been long like slaves and prisoners at Somosomo. I am now very happy. The land where Mr. Williams lives is where I wish to live. I do not wish to leave him. Such is my mind."

4. Luisa, a woman from Somosomo, spoke next; but as she spoke in the Tonga language, I did not understand all she said. The purport of her speech was to congratulate the Vewa people on their privileges in being allowed to worship God in peace, and to express her own joy in seeing so much of religion. She is an Uean.

5. The next was Jacob, who, from a fierce warrior and cannibal, has become a consistent Christian. He was induced to embrace Christianity from some remarks made by the Missionaries when burying one of his children, who had been induced to lotu by some Christian relatives, and afterwards died. He found the peace of God in the most extraordinary manner, during the religious revival of 1845, and is now a steady member of the church. He said, "I greatly dishonoured God formerly. If he had despised me as I despised him, I should have been ruined. I am now humbled on account of his

love to me. He has not done to me as I have done to him. I have despised him: he has not despised me. Such is my mind."

6. Josua, a Matuku man, who has been residing with Mr. Hazlewood, said, "I formerly followed a way that was not good. I used to spin nuts to know whether Jehovah was the true God or not. I have now abandoned all these things. I know that God is with me. He was with me in my own land. was with me in Lakemba. I know that nothing else is of any use whatever."

He

7. Koroitukana, a Bau Chief, spoke next. He is of considerable rank, and had a favourable opinion of Christianity long before he embraced it. His good feeling exposed him to the wrath of the other Bau Chiefs, during the persecution of 1845, and he was ordered to take up his residence in Vewa. After he had resided in Vewa some time, he renounced Heathenism, and has since been consistent as a professor of religion, and, I trust, is sincerely seeking the Lord. He

said, "I did not first begin to think of Christianity in Vewa. I began at Bau. I was in Vewa some time before I renounced Heathenism. At length Lydia persuaded me to be a Christian. I wish to follow Jesus on earth, and then to see him above. I desire that my friends may lotu. I have now no God but one. We formerly thought sin right; but we have learnt to think differently. We now see siu in the light of the Lord, and we desire to follow his steps. We are now concerned about our friends, who are eating one another. This is my mind."

8. Daniel, a Vewa man, was next. He said, "I am very happy: because this is a spiritual assembly. We used to rejoice in our worldly assemblies; but we now meet to speak of Jesus. I am now happy on account of Jesus. I know we did not sail to another land in search of Missionaries; you came to us of your own accord. We are but a small people; but we know in an acceptable time the true religion. I wish to die in this age, a good age for us; others are living under a different age. Such is my

mind."

9. Elijah, the Vewa Chief, was next in order. He said, "I wish to speak my mind, which is, to follow God, and to trust in him. Let me speak of the love of God to me. I have nothing else to speak of but the love of God. I professed religion some time before I knew his love: but now I know it. Now I wish to do what he approves, and to hate what he disapproves. I desire to do something for him, and am much pained because I do so little. I rejoice, because of his love to me, and to our land. I wish to spend my whole life in doing something for Jesus. I do not wish to remain in my own land. I wish to do something for Jesus. I do not wish to die before I have done something for him. Such is my mind."

10. Luke, a Bau Chief of high rank, who was formerly a great persecutor, said, "Formerly I resided at Bau. I knew then that Christianity was good. What I desire to say in the presence of you servants of God, is, that my desire is to follow Jesus, to do that which is just and right; and that I pity those who are in darkness. Such is my mind."

11. Susanna, a woman of sincere piety, and much respected by us for her kindness to Mr. and Mrs. Cross, came next. She said, "What I wish to say is, that I am a great sinner. I am not conscious now of living in sin. I know I have repented of my sins. I wish to trust in

Jesus. I desire to give him my heart, that I may not be separated from him."

I

12. Joshua, an old native Teacher of excellent character, came next, and said, "I wish to show my love to Jesus. know of no other Saviour. I went to Tonga formerly; but I did not find the Saviour. I have now found him; not for my own sake, but through his love alone. I was a long time before I began to meet in class. I thought that this is the reason why I do not find Jesus. I went to class, and found what I sought. I now desire to tell others of his love. I pity my friends who do not lotu. I have great love to the Missionaries. Such is my mind."

13. Satareki, (Shadrach,) a good servant of mine, was next. He said, "I was very near death; and I then thought,

Shall I go to heaven or hell?' I prayed to God: He heard me, and I lived. I desire now to live and serve Him. I know religion is useful to me. I see religion in others, and rejoice. I wish to live in the land where the lotu grows."

Two or three others spoke; but they did not say much worth writing.

At eleven o'clock, we had English preaching, when Mr. Hunt delivered an excellent sermon on the parable of the sower. In the afternoon we held an ordination service. Both natives and English attended; and the season was one of deep interest and solemnity. There were twenty-five English children present on this occasion: no wonder that great zeal is shown by their parents for their future education; for "Gad, a troop cometh."

A case occurred in these prolific regions of a mother naming her child Acts, having already had Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Revelation may be

reached.

INFANTICIDE AND POLYGAMY,— THEIR DESOLATING EFFECTS.

All the Missionaries say that infanticide is very prevalent here; and that the children are mostly destroyed before they are born by means the most startling and revolting, but that many others are murdered after they come forth. This practice is under the sanction of the authorities, and is particularly acceptable to the head-wives, that the lower order of women kept by the Chiefs may not have the care of children, and may not have any afterwards, but be at leisure to wait

upon their superiors. They do not attempt to stay the general polygamy and licentiousness; but they cut off the children with an unsparing hand. So manifest it is that polygamy will not be followed by increased population; but, on the contrary, the more the wives are multiplied, the more the children are murdered. In order to "replenish the earth," the law of nature and the written law of God must be obeyed, "Let every man have his own wife." It is clear to me that Heathenism could never people the world. Life is not sufficiently sacred in its eyes it is Christianity that gives sacredness to human life, and creates principles, motives, and energies, that will tend to the preservation of the race. This is what God is now doing in these seas. The Heathens will melt away, some by conversion, others by sin; but their days are numbered as a Pagan race. The benevolent religion of Christ will tame them, and it will be easy for white men to live in their land. Colonization in one form or other will certainly follow in the train of Christianity. The people will mix with each other, and the original race will cease to be a distinct people. The new character they will take must depend upon that of their colonial neighbours, whether true Christians, nominal Protestants, or ignorant Papists.

The preservation of any one of the families of the extensive Polynesian nation in their distinct and present form, seems to me unlikely. Others have melted away; and what is there to prevent these from sharing the same end? If they remain Heathen, they will fight and destroy one another, until their land shall tempt some powerful adventurers, without any concern but that of gain, to enter their country; and the collision that will follow must end where such collisions always end;-ferocity falls before skill. But if they receive the Gospel, as they are almost sure to do where it is clearly and faithfully preached to them, they will become new creatures, and will no longer engage in devastating wars, but will sit down peacefully, enjoying their new and improved condition. They do not all at once become industrious, for they have no motive to engage in wasting labour under a vertical sun: they already have all they need; and the habits, usages, and practice of their nation are adhered to. Civilization is a thing of slow growth, and requires several generations before it will be worthy of the name. Nations do not readily change their ways, and especially tropical nations, where industry is rendered fa

tiguing by the heat, and is the less needed on account of the fruitfulness of the soil, and the abundance of fruittrees. Very little progress has hitherto been made in the civilization of the South-Sea tribes in the Friendly Isles and Feejee; nor are the signs at all encouraging in this matter.

The expectations entertained in England are by no means realized on the spot, at least not with the rapidity which hope had painted, but left experience to correct. I am of opinion that the probable working out of the problem will be this: That the Gospel preached by our devoted countrymen will save the souls of multitudes in these isles; that this grace will soften their hearts and change their national character from warriors to men of love and peace; that the tide of emigration will sooner or later flow to their shores, and that a fine new race of civilized, mixed people will cover this part of the earth. Thus while a remnant of them shall be saved, God will show mercy to all who will accept it, and his retributive providence will be seen in the extinction of a nation (as such) that has been so deeply stained with the orgies of idolatry and with blood.

In

The Bishop of New-Zealand informed me that he took the census of the population of Waimate before the war, and while his establishment was there, and order and regularity reigned: the result was a decrease of five per cent. many parts of New-Zealand the natives are melting away; but they are not lost, they are merging into another and a better class. In this process there lacketh not sin; but Providence will overrule even this, and bring about an order of things which shall be better for the world, better for the church, and better for the new race destined to people parts of New-Zealand.

In the Sandwich Isles the American Missionaries are said to have been very happy in their work, and in the fruit of their labours. They have preached the Gospel efficiently, educated the people with diligence and general success, and they have been visited by a small colony of respectable people, English and Americans, well instructed themselves, and having the fear of God before their eyes. The effect of these three causes (namely, the Gospel, education, and colonization) is just what might have been expected. The natives are beginning to show a taste and a liking for the manners and customs of civilized men. With these they will become mixed, and by the

mixture they will be preserved and civilly improved. Their moral improvement will depend very much on the character of those with whom they mix.

4th. The heat is now 82° in the shade, at seven o'clock in the morning: at noon it is higher; but no inconvenience is complained of by the Missionfamilies. When I speak of being distressed, melted, and prostrated, they simply observe that they have a few hot days in the summer months, but that the present temperature is quite agreeable to them. Acclimatization is the painful

process by which these families have attained to this state of ease, and accommodation to their circumstances. A stranger is constantly annoyed by gnats and musquitoes, whose stings convey great misery; but the old residents scarcely notice them at all.

5th. The School-Examination took place at Vewa. The procession was composed of almost the entire population. The Chief, with a grey beard, walked before; each person, whether old or young, bore a thank-offering,—a mat, a club, or an earthenware vessel of native manufacture, &c. These, by the kindness of the Missionaries here, as everywhere, were handed over to me for the Auckland Chapel Bazaar. This part of the business done, the whole body moved onward towards the chapel, which stands on a high mound, in the midst of lofty evergreen trees. In the hands of many were carried branches of trees, and they sang sweetly as they moved slowly along. In the chapel they chanted the Rules of the Society and the Catechism, one part taking the questions, another the answers. They then stood up, one by one, and rehearsed chapters of the New Testament with great propriety and accuracy. The Queen did her part, the Missionaries said, better than any one beside. These are the early days of purity and simplicity here. One thing strikes a stranger on entering Feejee, which is, that all the Christians appear at their worship in full dress, their sable bodies being decently covered, which thing their Heathen neighbours utterly detest.

It was pleasing to see a good sprinkling of the Heathen looking at this spectacle with intense interest; and, at the conclusion, I addressed both parties on such points as I deemed appropriate to them and to the occasion. These Orientals require indulgence in this way: they love exhibition and display, and act most efficiently when they act in concert. I ob