Soon after the news of this afflictive event, intelligence arrived in England that alarming disturbances had broken out at Otaheite, and that eleven of the Missionaries had fled for safety to New South Wales; upon which the ship Royal Admiral was sent out under the command of Captain William Wilson, with twelve Missionaries, in May, 1800, and arrived at Otaheite in July, 1801. They were cordially received by the chiefs and people, as well as by the Missionaries, and found that during the years 1800-1 the island had been in peace. The brethren who remained had endeavoured to make themselves useful to the natives, and their prospects were encouraging. Of the Missionaries who sailed in the Royal Admiral, eight now joined their brethren at Otaheite.

Having given this brief sketch of the measures adopted by the London Missionary Society, until the arrival of the Royal Admiral, it will now be proper to introduce extracts from the Journals of the Missionaries resident in Otaheite, in order to give a fuller exhibition of the real character and manners of the native inhabitants, during the first four years that the Missionaries lived on the island.

The extracts will be detached and unconnected, a selection being made from the Journals of such parts as are most interesting, characteristic, and appropriate to the purpose for which they are introduced. Those who desire to see the Journals at full length, may have an opportunity by referring to the first volume of Missionary Transactions, published by the Society in London, from which the

C

following extracts are made. There were attached to the Mission, besides the actual Missionaries themselves, five ladies and two children; making in all a small colony of twenty-five persons.

August 4th, 1797.-This morning the ship Duff was got under sail, and lay to without the reef. We took, with tears of love, our last farewell of the Captain, officers, and seamen; and stood gazing at that highly favoured ship in which we had lived eight months, and sailed more than twenty thousand miles over a boisterous deep, till it vanished from our sight; not forgetting to lift up our hearts to God, in fervent prayer, for her protection, and safe passage to our native shore. We also gave ourselves in a more particular manner to the Lord, to aid and uphold us in our important undertaking, praying that he may grant us such qualifications as shall enable us to act with consistency before the poor benighted heathen; and that many may, through our instrumentality, be translated from the power of darkness, into the kingdom of his dear Son, Jesus Christ. We consider our situation critical, upon a small island, many thousands of miles distant from our native country, and surrounded by an uncivilized people.

August 5th.-Prayers as usual. A division of trinkets, knives, scissors, and various other things, which were thought necessary as presents to our Otaheitan friends, and to distribute among the natives as occasion may require, took place. Heard that Eddea, the king's mother, and the most powerful person in the island, talked of the great quantity

of property we had in possession, and the propriety of taking it from us. We informed her of our suspicions, and she sent Peter the Swede, to say that it was only talked of by some persons in an interior part of the island. We, therefore, by Peter, desired her to think no more of it. Eddea soon made her appearance among us; no expression of respect was wanting on our part towards her; and a good understanding between us was re-established.

August 7.-Old Manné Manné, the priest, though perhaps seventy years of age, came running about our house with as much agility as a young man of twenty, inquiring for the men of Brittane to haul his boat on shore; assigning as a reason for his applying to us, "that the Otaheitans were too idle to do it." His request was complied with.

August 9.-The mechanics sorted such tools as are necessary in their different employments. We have formed a hospital near our house, for the reception of any sick natives that may come, as many of them lie languishing under the venereal disease; a few have come, but it is hard to get them to take any medicine, and they expect to be cured in three or four days. Oh! may the Lord make us honoured instruments of bringing their souls to Jesus Christ, the Great Physician.

August 11.-Pomarre sent for Manné Manné to offer a human sacrifice at an assembly of theirs, called Towroa.

August 23.-Early this morning, discovered an entrance made into the smith's shop, and a number

of small, but valuable articles, stolen. The thief had dug out the sand, apparently with his hands, (the common spade of the natives,) and made a hole large enough to admit himself through with the articles stolen, under the ends of the sticks, which were not less than two feet deep in the ground.

August 29.-Another attempt was made on the blacksmith's shop last night, but without success. The natives that surround us are as void of gratitude as of principle.

October 3.-This morning held our monthly prayer meeting as usual. Old Manné Manné visited us with his ten young wives; he is almost blind with age, and drinking yavva; (this may be styled the whiskey of Otaheite.) What he cannot obtain from the natives by his priestcraft, he begs of us His whole power seems to depend on his priesthood; the poor natives say, "If we refuse him any thing, he will pray to the Eatooa, and we

shall die."

October 25.-The brethren mostly in their apartments, preserving them from the depredations of the natives, who surround us in great numbers, bringing advice of the approach of Pomarre and Eddea.

October 26.-After worship, presents were made to Pomarre, consisting of spades, axes, pick-axes, and other useful implements: the chief went to rest under our roof, apparently much pleased with the goods he had received.

October 27-Many natives about our house;

who take every opportunity to steal from us. Evening prayer after preaching; and after that, presents, such as were made to Pomarre last evening, were made to Eddea, with which she seemed equally pleased. Pomarre and Eddea sleep under our roof, with a few of their servants.

October 30.-In the afternoon, the chief, with his numerous train of attendants, left us; some of the revellers still remain. Nothing certain can be gathered of the origin of the Otaheitans.

Sunday, December 24.-Began the day with a prayer meeting. At half past ten, brother Cover preached from Heb. xii. 14. Manné Manné arrived from Opare, and privately informed the brethren, that Pomarre had killed a man for a sacrifice. The reason of this horrid piece of superstition is said to be as follows: Pomarre dreamed in the night his god came to him, and told him he must sacrifice a man to him, or he should be angry. In obedience to this he arose, and laid hands on the first man he caught, suitable to his purpose, and murdered him without hesitation.

March 6.-The Journal of this day states the arrival of the Nautilus, Captain Bishop, belonging to Macao, in the Bay of Bengal.

March 26.-Gives a long account of an attack made by the natives on four of the Missionaries, when on their way to visit Pomarre. The Missionaries were stripped of their clothing, severely handled, and finally escaped with their lives through the interference of some friendly natives who were passing at the time. This assault they believed