: 16th. Since quitting the neighbourhood of Rarotonga, our course has been directed, when the weather would permit, towards the Friendly Islands, which lie in a westerly direction from the Hervey group, at a distance of from eleven to twelve hundred miles; but having now to traverse near the edge of the trade latitude, the winds became much more unstable; sometimes they are directly opposed to our proceeding, and often boisterous, with as much sea as our little vessel could at times well bear. Nothing material occurred on the passage from Rarotonga our devotional duties were attended to as usual; and though Charles and myself had much to contend with, from the heat of the climate, and our narrow limits in the cabin, during our endeavours to draw nigh unto the Lord,—yet there is ample encouragement, notwithstanding human weakness and frailty, and the hindering things to which these poor bodies are subject, for all to persevere in wrestling for the blessing, with the noble resolution of the patriarch, "I will not let thee go, until thou bless me." It was expected I believe by all on board, that we should steer for the island of Tongataboo, but a variety of circumstances operated upon my mind, to produce a determination to aim in the first place at the northernmost island, Vavau this was so fixed with me, that I told Captain Keen, before we lost sight of Rarotonga, the conclusion I had come to; he made arrangements accordingly to accomplish the object in view. At noon to-day, it was found from accurate calculation, that the island of Vavau, was only distant about 102 miles. As we were now making rapid progress towards our destination, rolling away before a strong wind and following sea, it was thought that the distance was too short, to warrant running on through the night, and the more so, as the moon was too young to afford any light, when that would be the most needed. Our canvass was accordingly reduced, and at nine o'clock P. M., we hove to for the night. 17th.-At five o'clock A. M., bore up and made sail to the westward. At nine o'clock we were cheered with a sight of the island, and immediately stood for the northernmost bluff, with a fresh trade-wind in our favour. At noon, we were abreast of the bluff, and hauled round the different headlands as close as was prudent, with a good look out from the mast-head for the breakers. Although furnished with an ample number of nautical charts, yet none afforded specific directions for approaching these shores; and it was perplexing to find that a rough sketch printed by Mariner, (who long resided among the Tonga Isles, and published a history of them,) in our possession, disagreed in toto with two first-rate charts we had on board; and yet this imperfect sketch furnished to all appearance, the best directions for entering Port Refuge, although certainly never intended as a seaman's guide. On reaching a head-land which we expected would form one side of a spacious bay, in which we were hoping to find shelter, it was found on rounding it, to our great consternation, that island after island began to show itself; until every prospect of finding a port seemed closed up: it remained to be determined, whether we should run out to sea again, or risk an attempt to find shelter, by working into the heart of the group at a venture. Every precaution was used to avoid sunken rocks and shoals, and the colour of the water was our faithful guide. In the course of a few tacks, we seemed to be completely embarrassed amidst this host of enemies; we looked in vain on every side for an opening to the place, which we had before anticipated finding without any difficulty. At last, as the sun was rapidly setting, there seemed no chance of success, or option left, but that of taking refuge at sea, instead of in the port that bears the name of Refuge. Our captain would gladly have relinquished this hazardous pursuit, and made off while there was day-light to see the way out again; but, we had still some hope left, that the design would be accomplished, and when as the day-light receded, that hope sickened within us, the sight of a ship at anchor renewed it again like a charm, and stimulated to more persevering exertion. A second ship was now soon discovered near the first, and seeing an English jack flying for a pilot, they both displayed the American flag. It soon became dark, but there was as yet no anchorage, we had sounded in vain; and though surrounded by islands on every hand there was no bottom to be found. The place where these ships were seen, was now our aim, and at length we succeeded in getting near enough to hail the Pacific, of Nantucket, at anchor in twentyeight fathoms water; but by running a little nearer the shore, we found a sandy bottom, with sixteen fathoms upon it, which, after tumbling about for two months since leaving the roads of Waimea, at the Sandwich Isle Tauai, was accepted with thankfulness. What shall we render unto the Lord Most High, whose goodness and mercy still follow us in the way that we go?—Yea, he delivereth the poor, and him that hath no helper. What shall we say, or what shall we do, but wonder and adore, in humble prostration of soul, the fulness and extent of that love, which no tongue can set forth or declare it is boundless, as His everlasting mercy,-filling all space, and unfathomable as the ocean we traverse. : CHAPTER XXXI. VAVAU-WESLEYAN MISSIONARIES-NATIVE MEETINGS AT NEIAFU, FELETOA, AND HAALAUFULI-APPOINTED MEETING FOR SEAMEN -VISIT TO THE ISLAND OF OTEA-MEETINGS AT HIHIFO-AT MATIKA-EMBARKATION OF THE MISSION FAMILIES-SAIL LIFUKA. FOR Vavau, Eighth Month 18th.—This morning the natives began early to visit us, flocking on board with their simple articles of shells for barter. Although we usually hold our little meeting on this day of the week, yet the unsettled state of our affairs compelled us to relinquish the attempt, from the confusion around us, produced by the novelty of our vessel, and the unfitness of our own minds. At noon, left the vessel in quest of the missionary station. On reaching the head of the bay, two missionaries were observed coming towards us in a canoe; and on seeing our boat they returned again to the shore, to point out the most suitable place for landing, and to conduct us to the settlement at Neiafu. These were Stephen Rabone and John Spinney, who had lately arrived from England, viâ Sydney, with their families. In a short time we reached the habitation of John Thomas, the senior missionary, who has been for several years engaged upon these islands. Here we met with a kind and friendly reception, and the same offer of assistance as had been extended towards us at other places. We found the whole mission belongs to the Wesleyan Missionary Society exclusively; these individuals are the first of its members whom we have met with in the Pacific. I left my certificates with John Thomas for translation; and after having been cheered by hearing of our dear friends James Backhouse and George W. Walker, and of others whom we had known at Sydney and Hobart Town, at which places the recently arrived missionaries had spent some time waiting for a conveyance to the Friendly Islands, we returned on board. 19th. Notwithstanding the weather was so wet as to confine us on board, yet the deck was crowded with the natives from morning until evening. Small hogs, vegetables, and abundance of shells seem to be the whole of their saleable property. They are a fine manly race of people, of the most perfect form we have yet seen; and having as yet had but little intercourse with foreigners, they are not the victims of wretchedness and disease, which the seamen every where introduce. Their skins are clean and well oiled, and in general appearance they are healthy. The length and roughness of their hair, which is uniformly black, gives them rather a wild and ferocious appearance; but they are in reality as gentle and docile as little children. With the exception of an apron of long wiry grass about the waist, they are mostly naked. Taofaahau, on whom the title of King George has been conferred by the missionaries, is now absent at Lifuka, one of the Haabai Islands. He is spoken of very highly, and declared to be a preacher of the gospel to the people; and the queen, Charlotte, fills the station of class-leader among the female part of the community. It is said, the whole population of the group Haafuluhau, (pronounced Haah-foo-loo-how,) of which Vavau is the largest island; of the Haabai group, of which Lifuka is the most considerable, and a part of Tongataboo, have embraced Christianity; the remainder upon this last island are still called heathens. John Hobbs and William Allen Brooks, missionaries from the station at Feletoa, came on board this afternoon to make our acquaintance. Went on shore this evening, principally to inquire at what time I could see the people collected to-morrow morning, my mind having been turned towards a meeting with them. Finding no difficulty in the way, and having the promise of John Thomas to interpret for me, we returned on board. The evening proved wet, with thunder and lightning; and the vermin, which have greatly increased since we have been in these hot climates, being joined by a fresh supply of mosquitos from the shore, annoyed us extremely, so that there was but little rest to be |