and guided by the adorable Spirit of God; may you be enabled to do much to dry the fountain of intemperance and licentiousness, which threaten such desolations in every quarter of the globe, and to hasten the universal diffusion of revealed truth. We bid you God speed, while you proclaim to perishing men the glad tidings of salvation, through a crucified and exalted Saviour; while with self-sacrifice and devotedness to Christ, you labour " to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." Pray for us, that we may be found faithful in this work, and that the gospel may have free course, and be glorified. And now, as you are convinced that our Master calls you to leave us, to prosecute the service you have to perform for Him in other isles and coasts, we bid you and your son an affectionate farewell; and part with you as with valued friends, whom we hope to meet in peace, when the sacrifices, and toils, and trials of a missionary life are ended. "The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Not unto us, but to God be the glory. Your affectionate friends.' ASA THURSTON, HIRAM BINGHAM, SAMUEL WHITNEY, WILLIAM RICHARDS, LEVI CHAMBERLAIN, ARTEMAS BISHOP, LORRIN ANDREws, JOHN SMITH GREEN, PETER J. GULICK, 'To Daniel Wheeler.' (Signed) HENRY H. HITCHCOCK, DAVID B. LYMAN, An acknowledgment of the receipt of this document was sent to Oahu by the British Consul, Richard Charlton, as before hinted at; a copy of which now follows, with the substance of what quickened upon my mind to the members of the mission. 'To the Members of the Mission at the Sandwich Islands.' DEAR FRIENDS, "Your joint communication, replete with the expression of brotherly kindness and regard, was put into my hand just as we were quitting the shores of Oahu. Although utterly unmerited on my part, yet I feel compelled to accept it, from a belief in the purity of those motives by which it was dictated; while, at the same time, the feeling is awakened, that to me belongs only blushing and confusion of face." I rejoice in the opportunity so soon afforded me to acknowledge its receipt, and more especially because I had felt my mind drawn towards you, before I saw its contents; desiring more and more that you may individually become 66 acquainted with the binding influence of that love, which many waters cannot quench," unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." I desire for you, my friends, all that you can possibly desire for yourselves; believing that your principal desire is to be true followers of Him, who said,-" If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." These are the express and explicit terms of discipleship, to which unqualified obedience is required; and from which all reservations are inadmissible: let us examine then how far these indispensable conditions are submitted to on our part. If we profess to follow the great and heavenly example of " Him who died for us and rose again," in which all the graces of earthly perfection are combined, in all our actions before men, let us, my friends, be complete, and do it also in all our words: let our language to and before men be like His. Surely we ought to be content to use the language which he himself uttered and accepted of men. His words are pure words: they are wholesome words: and we ought to consent to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then let us be willing to follow the Lord of life and glory if we carry His example fairly out, our speech will bewray us and show that we are his disciples indeed: we shall find that this brings us at once to the foot of the cross-the daily cross: without this we are strangers to the self-denying holy cross; and if we do not bear the cross, we can never wear the crown. Then let us not fear to confess our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, nor be ashamed of Him and His word before men; remembering the awful declaration which bears upon all, and applies to all,-"Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is heaven ;" and "whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." This has been put into my heart in love towards you in the same love it is written, and in which I trust it will be received, from your affectionate friend, 'DANIEL Wheeler.' 'My son Charles unites with me in an assurance of grateful acknowledgment and regard for your kind remembrance of him.' 'P.S.-The oppressed condition of the natives of this island is truly affecting, and prompts me to remind my constant friend Hiram Bingham, of the address that was presented to the king Kinau, &c., at his house, to whose care the printing of it was committed.' 'Henry Freeling, in the road of Waimea, Isle of Tauai, 27th of Sixth Month, 1836.' CHAPTER XXX. ISLANDS-VISIT THE ISLAND OF RE-CROSS THE EQUATOR-HERVEY WITHOUT entering into the particular details of this voyage, which can be but of little interest to those on shore, we directed our course towards the equator, endeavouring as much as circumstances would permit, to keep to the eastward, in the hope of fetching the island of Rarotonga, one of the Hervey Isles, in latitude 21° 31' south of the line, and longitude 160° west. After witnessing the usual variety of changes in the winds and weather, and the thunder-storms to which these latitudes are subject, we were favoured to cross the equator about three o'clock in the morning of the 19th of Seventh Month, in health and safety, and at noon were in latitude forty miles south; longitude by lunar observation 160° west. Not a single vessel was seen during the whole passage; and although we must have passed near several of the islands scattered upon the surface of the ocean, both north and south of the line, yet none of them were sighted until First-day, the 31st; when at day-break in the morning the island of Rarotonga was discovered about seven leagues to windward of us. The morning was then calm, but at nine o'clock A. M. we stretched away to the east north-east, with a light breeze, there being no alternative, but that of endeavouring to beat up to it; although it was a little mortifying to perceive, that the settled trade-wind blew directly from it. Having by dint of exertion gained ground, one of the missionary stations could plainly be discerned to leeward on Second day afternoon. This was known by the appearance of a large building, which, with some others about it, was white washed, and had a neat appearance. We then stood to the southward until the other missionary station was open to our view, and near enough to observe a number of the natives upon the look out, who had no doubt descried the approach of a strange vessel to their shores. As the wind still blew strongly against us, we could not get sufficiently near the coast to entice the canoes to come off before the night closed in; so we hovered within a short distance of the island until the next morning, the 2nd of Eighth Month: when, at an early hour a boat was seen coming from the shore, from the first station observed yesterday, which in due time reached the Henry Freeling. We were enabled to understand from our visitors, that we were off the station of Charles Pittman the missionary, with whom and with his wife, we became acquainted at the island of Tahiti last year. They were at that time in a weak state of health, and it seemed very doubtful whether they would ever be able (particularly Charles Pittman,) to return to the island of Rarotonga. It was very satisfactory to find they were restored to their duty in improved health; more especially as our way seemed at once fairly opened to enter upon this new scene of labour, by the means being thus marvellously provided, as there was no other resident missionary at that time upon the island. I sent a note back by the boat to say, we were now permitted to greet them from the very edge of Rarotonga; and only waited information, as to the practicability of our vessel finding a place of safe anchorage. This boat was soon discovered to be again coming off, and on near approach, Charles Pittman himself proved to be on board of her. We had scarcely time to congratulate each other after he had reached the deck, before he became sea-sick from the tossing of our vessel. As he was unable to converse, we concluded to return to the shore with him immediately he remained in the air while we threw off our sea-garments, and we then put off together for the shore. He began to revive as we got into smoother water, and after landing he soon came round again. As we drew nigh the strand, it became densely covered with an innumerable host of children, who at once hailed us as their friends it was with difficulty that we could pass along for them, as these delighted little naked fellows completely choked up the avenue through a grove of bananas, which leads to the mission-house, struggling who should first get hold of our hands; and if but a finger could be laid hold of, it seemed quite to satisfy them: this banana grove was of Charles Pittman's own planting. Soon after reaching the house, the floor was studded over with natives squatted on every side, the elders of the people coming forward to salute us, and welcome us to their island. After some consideration and inquiry had taken place, it was concluded that the people should be generally convened to-morrow morning in that district, and a meeting held at eleven o'clock A. M. The afternoon, towards sundown, would have been preferred on some accounts, but this would unavoidably have thrown us into the dark, and thereby rendered our return to the Henry Freeling doubly hazardous. After partaking of some simple refreshment, we looked round the village of Gnatagnia, and then prepared to return to our vessel. When leaving her in the morning, we took with us an English union jack, for the purpose of hoisting upon a lofty bamboo, or cocoa-nut tree, as a signal for Captain Keen to stand in as close to the reefs as was prudent on seeing this flag displayed upon the shore, to save the labour of the people in the boat, and to afford us every chance of smooth water. When this flag was put up, we were told that it was the first time the English flag had been planted upon the island of Rarotonga; very peaceable possession had been taken of the island on this occasion at any rate, and one in which a most cordial reception was strongly evinced, in a degree of that love which casteth out fear from every breast, and makes every man a brother. We were favoured to get well on board, and then purchased a few fowls and vegetables of the native crew, more with a view to please, than from a want of fresh provisions. Our meeting with the natives to-morrow is now entirely dependent upon the elements, a shift of wind may compel us to seek safety, by flying from the island before the returning morning; but having done our best, we must cast all our burden and all our care upon Him, who alone can bring it to pass; before whom my mind is humbled and bowed down, imploring help and |