: to pluck them out of my Father's hand." Thus, the security and blessedness of the Lord's children, which compose his church, are set forth by its holy Head, the Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep and there is no other way for any of us to become of this happy number, but that of sitting under the teaching of His Holy Spirit, to learn of Him, to know His voice and be known of Him, and be His sheep and follow Him. He will teach us humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart. Such are formed for himself, do show forth His praise, and glorify Him before men, by producing the fruit of the Spirit in the sight of those around them; openly declaring by life and conversation, that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation, even to those who beforetime were in darkness, hateful and hating one another. I was largely opened among them; and if it was possible to recapitulate all that was uttered, words would still fall short, and fail to describe the heart-tendering solemnity which crowned the meeting. Towards the conclusion when about saying farewell to these dear people, as one never to see their faces again, that Almighty power which alone can soften the heart was eminently conspicuous; tears could not be restrained, but silently and undisguisedly rolled down the swarthy cheeks of the sons and daughters of this isle of the ocean. 3rd. Early in the morning the Henry Freeling unmoored, and prepared for sailing: by twelve o'clock the whole of the missionary families, with their servants and luggage being on board, we left the well-sheltered harbour of Port Refuge; and retracing our course through the maze of islands into the open. ocean, stretched away from the shore of Vavau. A large number of the natives attended to the last, and hung round the sides of our vessel until compelled to let go their hold, evincing sincere regret at her departure. One of the chiefs of the island. of Otea, named Noah, a noble man in person, with whom we were particularly acquainted, and whom we highly esteemed, wept aloud when he left us, and was heard when the canoe was at a considerable distance. He was affected by the whole circumstance of parting with all his friends; but principally on account of losing an adopted daughter, who was leaving Vavau for Tongataboo: she had been for a long time an inmate of the mission-house. Our passengers consisted of John Thomas, Stephen Rabone, John Spinney, John Hobbs, (going to reside at Lifuka,) and William A. Brooks, with their families, in all eighteen persons, besides nine domestics. We had also William Bunubùnu, nephew of the late Finau the conqueror of these islands in former days, selected by King George, as our pilot for the Haabai group. Soon after getting fairly out to sea, the whole of our guests, except two of the youngest children, became sick; and some of them remained so the whole time. The wind became unfavourable in the night, and prevented our seeing the isle of Aano next morning as was calculated upon. [Haanna in the Map?] 4th. When morning came, it was found that we had drifted towards the island of Kao, in appearance a lofty mountain of regular conic shape rising out of the sea, and evidently of volcanic origin. By ten o'clock A. M., the island of Toofoa was fairly opened, and the action of the volcano at the north end plainly to be seen, vomiting clouds of smoke into the atmosphere, which occasionally burst forth with increased strength. It was soon ascertained that getting to Lifuka by night, as before anticipated, was quite impracticable, as the wind continued to baffle us; but shifting two or three points after midnight, we fetched well to windward, and after making one short tack at the entrance of the reef, before ten o'clock were favoured safely to anchor off the island of Lifuka, abreast of the settlement of Mua, in only three and a half fathoms water, on Fourth day the 5th instant. Any vessel less manageable than the Henry Freeling, might easily have got upon the reef, the entrance is so narrow and intricate, in the worst part of which she had to tack. It is probable that few vessels so large as ours ever anchored upon the same ground; and none, however small, ought to venture without a competent pilot on board. It is close to this spot that the Port au Prince was wrecked, perhaps thirty years ago: some of her remains. are visible at this day, and are frequently dug out of the sand by the king's order, for the sake of the copper bolts, &c. Of recent date, the Snapper was cut off by the natives and lost. upon an adjoining reef, not far from Mua. Soon after we had anchored, Charles Tucker, the resident missionary at this place came off, bringing with him James Watkin, who had arrived the preceding day from his station on the island of Tongataboo. A double canoe was procured, which took the whole of our passengers and luggage at once to the shore: they were safely landed by eleven o'clock, to their great relief. The natives soon began to visit us, well pleased to see a vessel at anchor off the island, as it is but seldom that such a circumstance occurs. CHAPTER XXXII. ISLAND OF LIFUKA-NATIVE MEETING-DISTRIBUTION OF BIBLES, &c. NUKUALOFA-LETTER OFF THE SETTLEMENT AT FROM THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARIES DISTRIBUTION OF CLOTHING AND MEDICINES--VISIT ΤΟ THE SETTLEMENT AT MUA-RESTRAINING INFLUENCE OF THE MISSIONARIES-NATIVE MEETING AT NUKUALOFA. Tenth Month 6th.-This morning early, a turtle of prodigious size was sent on board as a present from Josiah Tubou, the king of Tongataboo, who had arrived here from that island. In the forenoon the weather became quite stormy, and the wind coming in from the westward, made it uneasy riding in the bay. Charles and myself sat down together as usual to wait upon the Lord, though in much poverty and weakness. At noon it threatened to blow strong; but shortly afterwards the atmosphere became more tranquil. There was not so much to be apprehended from the anchor and cables not holding the vessel, as from the danger of striking on the rocky bottom, had the swell from the ocean been permitted to come in upon us. The hurricanes which we are told occasionally occur here, are very awful, levelling with the earth houses, trees, &c., before their tremendous blast; and they generally, if not always, blow from the westward, the only quarter from which we have any thing to fear at this anchorage, as the land and the reefs are a shelter on every side, but this; but the Lord's power is the same here as in every other place—" mighty to save and to deliver" out of every trouble and distress. 7th. This morning the natives thronged our decks with. trifling shells for barter; but the poor creatures have very little in their possession to offer. The last violent hurri cane with which they were visited, destroyed their breadfruit trees, &c. to considerable extent, and materially injured their yams, upon which they are usually supported; and from this serious calamity they have not yet recovered. Many of them are now subsisting upon the fern and tea-tree roots; but it is expected that in a few weeks' time, the present complaints of famine will be banished by an abundant supply of yams, sweet potatoes, &c. In the afternoon we visited the mission-house by invitation. While there it was with me to propose having an opportunity afforded of seeing the people, when collected at their morning meeting next First day. On inquiring about some one to interpret what I might have to say to the people, James Watkin the missionary then present from Tongataboo, was proposed to undertake that part of the work, to which he kindly and readily assented. May the Lord be graciously pleased to magnify his power, and cause this stranger and myself to be faithful to Him, in performing each his office; so that, "that life and immortality" which "are brought to light by the glorious gospel," may be declared to the natives of Lifuka, and others assembled with them, to our Maker's praise. 8th.-Engaged on board till late in the afternoon with the natives. It is probable that the meeting to-morrow will be very large, as the inhabitants from the different islands which compose the Haabai group, are now assembled at this place, besides a vast number from the Haafuluhau group, and Tongataboo. Oh! that the Master of assemblies may be there. To Him, who only knoweth my motive for coming amongst them, I commend them and myself; humbly praying for help in the needful time, lest the cause of truth and righteousness should suffer in such weak and feeble hands 9th. (First day.)-Proceeded towards the shore at an early hour. We were met on landing by a swarm of young natives, who appeared to be on the look out for us. In half an hour the first bell rung to assemble the people: this bell might have been spared, as the large meeting-house was filled, and a multitude still outside, when we passed by on our way from the boat to the mission-house: another extensive building was |