("canoe,") paddled by three men. They came near; but the sea was so rough that they were afraid of their canoe being swamped. The first question was, "Is it a Missionary ship? Have you got any Teachers? As soon as they found it was even so, we could detain them no longer, either to give us news, or show us a landing-place. Respect to their Chief compelled them to hasten back with the intelligence, that he might prepare for our reception. They went, overjoyed with the glad tidings, leaving us to find a landing-place. As they approached the shore, one of them twirled his paddle in the air, as if frantic with joy: the feeling was reciprocated by those on land, when we saw the natives jumping like rabbits from rock to rock. We gazed on the spot where they had begun to congregate, clothed in their best gnatu, (native cloth,) and beautifully-plaited white mats: still we saw no possibility of getting ashore. Soon we heard the lali beat, calling the people together; and then, discovering that we must land where the natives were assembled, the boat was lowered, and we passed securely the rolling waves, until we were within fifty yards of the huge rocks against which the foaming billows were frightfully sporting. While pondering, to perplexity, how we were to effect a landing, there was a sudden rush, from a rock, of forty or fifty natives into the water, who surrounded our boat, each determined to shake hands, while they were yet swimming. second Mate, who had charge of the boat, vociferated against it, but all in vain. We threw out our anchor, to prevent being dashed against the rocks; and, when we were sufficiently near, I jumped out, the natives catching me in their arms, to prevent my falling into the sea. Mrs. Tucker gave a bold spring, with a native, before I could be in a position to give her my hand; and they secured her and Mr. Tucker in a similar manner. Immediately, each of us was placed on a mat, fastened to two long poles, and supported by native cords. It was at once raised to the shoulders of eight or ten men, who ran up the rocks with perfect safety and amazing dexterity, while hundreds surrounded our palanquins (as we called them by way of distinction). They ran with us also through the bush, where vast numbers had been employed in preparing the way, breaking off large branches of trees, &c. At last we came to the enclosed ground round the house of the leading Chief, who is appointed by the King to govern for him, as he is

Our

growing old. Here we wanted to alight, but they would not allow it: so over the stile we rode, and were carried into the house, where we were lowered to the ground, and took our seats on the chairs. King George, Queen Charlotte, Melchisedec the Chief, and his wife, all ClassLeaders, with the Teachers, Local Preachers, Chiefs, and people, surrounded us in the lawn fronting the house, pronouncing us welcome, while many wept aloud for joy, some of them exclaiming, Fakafetai kia Jesu. Faka fetai lwo mou moni. ("We give praise to Jesus. We are thankful you are alive.") Many of them kissed our hands, as a mark of respect.

25th. At day-dawn we found the native Teachers waiting to receive instruction. At eight o'clock the lali beat to call them to service. The chapel is ninety feet by thirty-seven; one of the most beautiful places I have seen, the roof being made of the bread-fruit tree, the pulpit strong and rather high, with about seven steps at the entrance. The chapel was filled with an interesting congregation, to whom I preached from Acts ii. 26. I afterwards met the Teachers, Local Preachers, and Leaders, while Mrs. Tucker went to the house to arrange with the parents for the baptism of their children, and to write their names. The report at the different meetings was very encouraging. There are ten Local Preachers, twenty-eight male Class-Leaders, twenty-one female Class-Leaders, five hundred and sixtyone church members, and six chapels. At noon we went to take refreshment; but they had been so interested in our sayings and doings, that we were in danger of having only "angels' fare." At last, however, a little yam was brought, which we ate with relish.

At two o'clock the lali beat again: the chapel was crowded, the same plan being adopted as at Niua Tobu-Tobu. One hundred children were baptized; after which I examined thirteen young men, recommended as Local Preachers. I was pleased with their answers, and authorized their being employed, provided their talent for preaching was approved on their being regularly heard.

We conversed with three men, from Wallis's Island, who a few days ago had been drifted thither in a small canoe, after five days' tossing on the water, in all but a hopeless state. From them I learned, that the Papists had taken possession of that part of the land where the anchorage is; and that the

leading Chief there, who is pilot, was zealous in their cause; but that the King, who lived in another part of the land, was opposed to them; and that his son was gone somewhere, and rumour said, it was to get Tonga Teachers. On hearing this, I appealed to the native Teachers, who had been three years on this island, if they were willing to go, with their wives and children, to suffer and, should it be the will of God, to die for their Master. One of them said, "The time is gone by for me to seek my own will: you have only to say it is your mind, and I will go." His wife

expressing herself in a similar way; and the others being equally willing, orders were given for them, their wives, and children, to be ready by the dawn of the next morning.

26th. We parted from our kind friends, who wept bitterly, kissing our hands, while we blessed them in the name of the Lord. The sea was rough, and there was no access to the boat, but by jumping from a rock. We then rode the swelling waves, with not a little tossing, until we were welcomed on board the "Triton." The boat returned for the Teachers and their families; but, wind and sea rising, we were under the necessity of leaving many of our pigs, yams, &c. We have left three Teachers: two of them have been there three years, and one we had taken with us.

All being on board, and the wind favourable, we directed our course to Wallis's Island, distant one hundred and twenty miles.

27th. We sighted Uvea, or Wallis's Island; and at two P. M. entered the harbour, where two whaling-ships were at anchor. The entrance is very difficult, and highly perilous in bad weather. There are seventeen islands in this group, many of them small and uninhabited the population of the main land is about three thousand five hundred, the greatest part being under the influence of a powerful Chief, who has embraced the Papal heresy. The King, who lives ten or twelve miles distant, is still heathen, and, with his people, (who are, however, smaller in number,) is all but in open war with the Chief.

28th. Just as we were going to family prayer, the Chief came, with a large double canoe and about fifty men. I invited him into our cabin, and asked Mr. Tucker to pray in Tonguese. Our natives began to weep; and when we rose from our knees, the eyes of the Chief were suffused with tears. He is a fine, tall, gentlemanly man, and can

speak better English than any native I have met with in these seas. I said, that my object was, to visit the King, and, if possible, obtain leave for two of our Teachers to instruct his people. He said, "This is my ground; but I shall not object to your visiting the King, though we are not friendly, as he will not lotu to the Pope." From this I inferred, that the vessel would be in safety; and, therefore, taking four men to manage the boat, we went with Mr. Tucker about ten miles to His Majesty's residence. The King was taking kava with his Chiefs when we arrived. He is a fine-looking man, between thirty and forty years of age, with remarkably black hair nearly a foot long, and a keen, penetrating eye. We were kindly received. I was directed to sit on his right, and Mr. Tucker on the left, hand; the Chiefs, many of them venerable with age, forming a circle,-all fine, interesting persons. I made known, through Mr. Tucker, my errand. The King said, "I have great love to my gods, and shall not embrace Christianity at present. I also killed some of your Teachers; and, after such an act, should be ashamed to embrace their religion." We reasoned with him, having, according to custom, presented our gifts; but all seemed in vain. Jotham, the oldest of our Teachers, made his appeal, approaching the feet of the King, and begged permission to stay and teach his people the way to heaven. An old heathen Priest was then appealed to by the King. He had long grey hairs, and an almost diabolical countenance; and expressed, in the strongest terms of indignation, his unqualified disapprobation of our object. Finding that we had urged the matter as strongly and as long as prudence dictated, we left, persuaded that the old Priest had influenced the King's decision: he, however, shook hands most heartily on our parting.

On reaching the ship, I sent for the Roman Catholic Chief, and asked, whether he would allow them to stay in his land, and preach "the unsearchable riches of Christ" without let or hinderance. He said, "If you had come first, I would; but now I do nothing without consulting the Priest." I said, "The Priest teaches things contrary to the word of God," noticing several particulars; and remarked, "The land being your own, you can do what you please; unless the Priest governs you, and you govern the people." He wished explanation, which was given him in very plain terms. He replied, "I am sorry;

but I can do nothing without the Priest."

The Priests here are those three whom King George sent away from Vavau four years ago. They are in daily expectation of the Bishop from New Zealand with more Priests, when they intend making another attempt on the Friendly Islands.

I shall write to all the brethren to fortify the infant churches against the delusions of Popery. All who may henceforth come to these islands, or to the colonies, should be well instructed in these matters.

31st. We weighed anchor, and set sail for Rotumah, distant three hundred and ninety miles west. The weather is more settled, and there is a prospect of a pleasant voyage.

June 4th. After a pleasant passage, we anchored at Rotumah about two P. M. The Christian Chief, whom we had brought from Vavau, wished us to be on our guard, as some of his countrymen were great thieves. He said, that when one of the first vessels came, they stole the compass, and carried it to a hill in the bush, declaring it to be a god who had brought the vessel. The Captain obtained it afterwards, through a leading Chief. As we entered the bay, Tokainiua, one of the principal Chiefs, came in a canoe with the pilot. Some eighteen months ago he was at Tonga, and had seen Mr. and Mrs. Tucker several times. On his return, he called at Niua-fo-ou, and professed to embrace the Christian religion, requesting a Teacher, whom we had now with us, to go to his land. We found him a very fine, tall, intelligent man, about twenty-six years of age, who can talk a little English. At first there seemed a degree of shyness; but soon all reserve left him; and he said, "White Missionary very good man. Mr. Waterhouse, you shall now be my father; and Mrs. Tucker, you shall be my mother. We love you both too much. You go ashore, and Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, to see my wife and one child." To this we readily assented. I then called our Teachers together, and requested he would take them under his care. He said, "One should live with him, and the other with his mother," who is a very great Chief. Isaiah, the Rotumah Chief, whom we had taken, said, that two of them should go to his part of the land, as soon as he had arranged with the other Chiefs.

We

then went on shore, and waited on this old mother Chief, presenting, as usual in these lands, our gift.

Many of the natives have a smattering of English, there being a number of English, Americans, and Portuguese in the land, by whom their morals have been awfully corrupted.

With the Christian natives, members of our religious community, whom we had taken from Vavau, our Teachers and their wives, we have already a society of twenty members, sanctioned by two Chiefs. I am exceedingly pleased with our batch of native Teachers and their wives, especially those whom we took from Niua-fo-ou. Their piety, zeal, good sense, and prudence will, under the divine blessing, do much good. They were plodding hard at the language on the voyage, being assisted by the Rotu mah natives. I have no doubt but some of them will be able to converse in that language in a month. They are going

to translate the Lord's Prayer immedi ately, as it is usual in all our assemblies in these seas for the whole congregation to join in repeating it. Our parting scene was affecting: they wept and kissed our hands, while we commended them to Him whose loving-kindness is better than life.

Tokainiua, the Chief, is exceedingly anxious that a white Missionary should go and live amongst them. I engaged

to press this matter on the attention of the Committee. First, There are the poor natives, than whom none can more need the Gospel. Secondly, The sad intermixture of Europeans, &c. Thirdly, The circumstance of so many being able to speak English, so that a Missionary could do much good immediately. Fourthly, Because the emissaries of the Church of Rome have determined, if possible, to make that one of their stations. The Romanists have already, through some medium, given them an idea that no good Missionary is married. That "doctrine of devils" I refuted.

Isaiah, the Rotumah Chief, has been in church-fellowship seven or eight years with our people at Vavau. Through Mr. Tucker I examined him; and, being satisfied on several points, I have authorized him to act as a Local Preacher, which, from the circumstance of his being a Chief, and knowing the language, will be of vast importance.

9th. I conversed with an interesting youth, a Feejeean, the adopted son of the King of Rewa, who had lotued some time ago at Tonga. We found him at Rotumah; and it being the wish of his father, that, if we met him, we should take him home, I gave him a passage. He told us he had visited New-Guinea

and New-Ireland; and that in NewIreland the men are in a state of entire nudity, and the women little better. He says, it is a very large land, with many inhabitants; and he thinks, from their disposition, they would receive a Missionary. We also questioned him concerning Rotumah, where he had lived five months. He says, that the greatest difficulty in the way of the people becoming Christians was, that so many white persons are living among them; who said, that if they became Christians, their women could get no more money by going on board ships. It is a common practice for the women, as soon as a vessel comes to anchor, to lend themselves to the men for prints, calicoes, &c.; and our vessel was the only one he had seen where that was not done.

14th. At dawn of day we sighted Kandavu, in Feejee, the island which Mr. Cargill and I visited under such perilous circumstances, about twelve months since, on our way to HobartTown. At noon we passed this large and important land, and were visited by two canoes, from whom we learned that they were at war among themselves. The adopted son of the King of Rewa, whom we took on board at Rotumah,a youth, about twenty years of age, very pleasing in person, well-informed, and able to speak a little English,—told us that he had once lived on this island; that on the high mountain there are very large wild hogs, and that many natives have been killed and devoured by them. He says, there is also a spring of hot water. The desolations of war have been dreadful, when men, women, and children have been eaten. On being asked if he had eaten human flesh, his reply was, Yes, often: we used to think pork sweet, but that was sweeter." He then showed us the part of the human body which was reserved for Chiefs, as being the most delicious. More generally, he says, they roast the bodies, and then boil them; as they are tenderer when cooked in that way. He stated, further, that at Vatutu two hundred and thirty bodies were eaten at one feast. This was corroborated by Joshua, and confirmed by others. I had not a Missionary for Kandavu, or I should have liked to visit them once more, the Chief having, on the former occasion, assured me that they would be glad to have one. The land is as large as Tonga and Habai. I saw a canoe, with a great number of men, going to war at Tausura. At two P. M. we anchored at Vite-Levu, seven miles from the Mis

sion-premises. On our way to the station, we passed a great number of canoes; all the men having their faces blackened, indicating war. On approaching the Rev. Mr. Jaggar's, I was surprised to see that, since my last visit, a native bridge had been erected over the river: the span is one hundred and forty-seven feet, and it has thirteen arches, the centre arch being fourteen feet above the water. The Missionhouse I found greatly improved. It is now decidedly the best house in the Feejee, or the Friendly, Islands. The inmates were well, and gave me such welcome as a father would receive from his family. We spent the evening in listening to the most horrifying accounts connected with their wars. About three weeks ago, more than one hundred persons were murdered at Viwa, within a short distance of Mr. Cross's house. About twenty bodies were carried to Rewa, and a general scramble took place among the people for them. Three of the bodies had the entrails taken out, and were washed and prepared for the oven opposite the Missionpremises, and in the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Jaggar. Each party then fastened a cord to the body of the man they had taken, and towed it on the river to his respective hora, or "town." One head was thrown into Mr. Jaggar's yard, and partly eaten by their dog: one of the teeth is in my possession. As Mr. and Mrs. Jaggar were going to the service on the succeeding Sabbath, they met some natives taking the roasted thigh and ribs of a man, as a present to a Chief. While looking at it, some of them remarked, "It is not well cooked." On passing one house, they heard them say, "What vegetables shall we have with the man's flesh to-day?" These accounts, together with the perilous situation of Mr. Cross and his family, made me determine, God willing, to them on the morrow. But our difficulty was, to get a canoe, as so many were employed in the wars.

visit

16th. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, Mr. Jaggar, and myself, set out in a canoe to Viwa, twenty miles distant. We reached the place before dark, and found Mr. and Mrs. Cross and family well, considering the painful circumstances in which they had been placed. After we had partaken of some refreshment, Mr. Cross gave us the following account :"Many reports were in circulation that the Bau Chiefs were meditating war against Viwa, and intended to murder Namosemalua and his nephew, the