having consented, things began to move more readily forward, until the Catholic made some assertions highly injurious to the missionary cause, and offensive to the queen and all her chiefs, who felt very indignant on the occasion; and which I knew to be incorrect. There did not seem any other part for me, however unpleasant, than publicly to contradict what he had said, and to declare that some of the language he had used, had never been expressed by the person whom he was charging with having uttered it. This for a time caused considerable altercation; but having three witnesses on my side, this difficulty was soon got over, and order again restored. The examination continued, until the Catholic, unable to prove the statements he had made on first coming to Tahiti, and finding himself foiled on every side, made a hasty retreat, to all appearance not a little offended. One of the chiefs then expatiated on the case, as follows:- This man (meaning the Catholic) held out that he should not come to this meeting; and it is seen that he did come to the meeting. He declared that he had a letter sealed with King William's seal, and he had no such thing: that he had a letter from the British Ambassador at Paris, and he had no such thing; and now, by his running away, he has shown himself to be a deceiver.' Then turning the attention of the assembly to my Charles and myself, he said, 'On their coming amongst us, we had no occasion to ask for letters; they gave them themselves into our hands. It is known to every chief in the island there was no trouble with them, because they are not deceivers.' He finished his speech, by proposing that such a man should never be allowed to come amongst them. After this the queen's speech was delivered by a clear headed middle-aged chief; which concluded with a call upon all her faithful subjects to unite in never permitting this Catholic, or any other of the same profession, to come to disturb the peace and tranquillity of Tahiti. Another chief made a very animated oration, which we were informed contained a proposition, not only to banish this man for ever from their shores, but to follow him on the sea, and not allow either him or his comrades to remain so near them as the Gambier Islands, but to banish them from thence, lest

the plague should come amongst them: throwing his long stick upon the floor, to describe them as trampled under foot, never again to rise.

11th. Yesterday we went to George Pritchard's to become acquainted with Alexander Simpson, the missionary from the island of Eimeo. He had come over to attend the meeting that had been appointed for the missionaries of all the districts, to take into consideration the arrival of the Irish Roman Catholic, above-mentioned. Alexander Simpson's wife and daughter were with him. He seems kindly disposed to forward our views, when visiting the island upon which he resides.

14th. (First day.) In the forenoon a few strangers assembled with our own crew. In the course of the time we were together, I had a short testimony to bear to the indispensable duty of loving one another. How can we expect to be forgiven our trespasses, if we from our hearts do not forgive every man his brother their trespasses. Soon after one o'clock, P. M., George Pritchard called, accompanied by Alexander Simpson's wife, in a whale boat, to convey Charles and myself to Papáoa. We reached in time for the meeting of the Tahitians, which consisted of a large body of the people. Throughout much of the day, and much of the time also that their religious engagements were going forward, my mind was under no small weight of exercise, and it seemed doubtful to myself whether I should have any thing to communicate or not; but towards the latter part, I only waited for a proper interval of silence to stand upon my feet. George Pritchard observing this, asked whether I wished to say any thing then, or after the next singing was over: but the present moment seemed the right one; which being signified, he exhorted the meeting to stillness and attention, and waited by my side for me to begin. [D. W. then communicated what was upon his mind.] Shortly after this, the meeting broke up: when the people drew towards us, and commenced the usual ceremony of shaking hands. The queen was present; but I did not know it until afterwards. We called at her house on our way to the boat, but she was gone off on foot to Papeete.

Half-past eleven o'clock, P. M. My mind is peaceful and easy, and relieved; and the God of glory has the praise; who thus continues to bear up a poor tribulated way-worn traveller, renewing my youth as the eagle's, and as the day is, so causing my strength to be.

CHAPTER XXI.

VISIT TO BUNAAUIA-NATIVE MEETING-KINDNESS OF THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF POINT VENUS-PERILOUS SITUATION-MEETING AT POINT VENUS-VISIT TO PAPARA-BEAUTIFUL SCENERY-SCHOOL AT OF THE NATIVES-LETTER FROM THE NATIVE CONGREGATION-NATIVE MEETING AT PAPARA-RETURN TO THE HENRY FREELING-LETTER FROM THE QUEEN Of Tahiti.

TEAHUPOO-MEETING

Sixth Month 16th.—Last night had some conversation with George Pritchard about accompanying me to Bunaauia this afternoon. It was proposed that we should lodge at the house of David Darling, the missionary at that station, in order to attend the Tahitian worship at sun-rise to-morrow morning. We set out in a whale-boat about three o'clock, P. M. our company consisted of Alexander Simpson and George Pritchard, with some other members of the missionary families, my son Charles and myself, with four Tahitians at the oars. We had a fine passage while within the reef; but on reaching the opening which leads out into the main ocean, the rollers broke with so much violence, that some of our company were discouraged from making the attempt to force a passage through it. At length it was concluded to run the boat on shore upon a sandy beach, near some of the huts of the natives, who sallied forth in a body, and soon hauled her up beyond the reach of the surf. Our party being all landed, we proceeded on foot, and should soon have reached the missionhouse, and in good day-light, but having a considerable river to encounter, the night overtook us before we had all passed over it. This river is rapid, and of uncertain depth; and notwithstanding the bed of it is covered with loose round stones, the natives are so dexterous, that an accident but rarely occurs. A number of these people soon came to our assistance, and the company were all landed safely on the other side. Soon after

dark we reached the hospitable mansion of David Darling, and were received with great kindness by his wife and family; himself being from home among the Marquesan Islands, whither he had gone to assist in establishing a missionary. At this place we found the wife and three children of J. M. Osmond, the missionary at the Taiarapu station. They had been tossing about for a considerable time in a clumsy boat of their own, not at all likely soon to reach their abode, unless the wind should blow from a direction seldom witnessed at this season of the year. Being rather unwell in the evening, and having passed an almost sleepless night, I felt in poor condition when it was time to get ready to attend the sun-rise meeting of the Tahitians, on the morning of the 17th instant. A large number of the people collected together, and when the usual service of their own was gone through, I stood up, and George Pritchard interpreted for me, as at other times.

The principal burden that rested upon my mind, was to turn the attention of the people to the light of Christ Jesus in their own hearts, that their conversation might be such as becometh His gospel. I had to tell them, that although I did not understand their language, yet I was fearful for them, seeing that for every idle word a man shall speak, he must give an account in the day of judgment; for by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned: believing and declaring this belief, that a very loose and wanton conversation was a besetting sin amongst them. I had to remind them of the superior advantages bestowed upon these islands, over many others of this part of the habitable globe, by the introduction of Christianity amongst them. Had they obeyed the gospel, the effect of the evil introduced amongst them by distant nations, would have been prevented. That the Lord is looking for fruit; and "the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth briars and thorns is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned:" that the desire of my soul was, that the lamentation once taken up by the Saviour of the world, might