to complain of barrenness, for this is the Divine constitution-"Them that honour me, I will honour;" if, therefore, we expect Divine ordinances to be profitable, they must be conscientiously, regularly, and prayerfully regarded. The dispensation which this paper records, urges every reader, but especially the young, and the friends of the deceased, "that they may be fervently to pray rendered meet for the inheritance of the saints in light." Direct your eye and your

hearts to heaven, and "hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." You may be called to suffer to the latest period of time; but if you suffer with Jesus, you shall also be glorified together: for after a few years of disease and suffering, Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom; and but a little while and all the followers of the Lamb shall share in the same exalted honour and felicity, N. Penrith, Aug. 14, 1826.

ceeded to the teacher's house, which we found equal to any, and superior to most of the houses of the natives at the Society Islands. Not far from the teacher's house is the chapel, around which the dwellings of the Christian converts are scattered.

After the curiosity of the crowd had been a little satisfied, I requested them to adjourn to the house of worship, which was soon filled. Great numbers, who could not get inside, surrounded every part of the house, and listened with attention. Davida began with prayer; after which I addressed them on the love of God, in sending his Son to die for them. I then exhorted those who had embraced Christianity to remain steadfast, and those who still adhered to idolatry, to forsake it, and receive the light sent down from heaven. I returned with Davida and his little flock to his house, where we spent some time in conversation, and again exhorted them to constancy. I addressed a word of affectionate advice to Davida, in reference to the work in which he was engaged, and promised that another labourer should be sent to him the first opportunity. After supplying him with elementary books, &c., and what few articles we could spare, for his own use, and for barter, I commended him to God, and bade bim farewell. then returned on board, and bore away for Rarotonga.

We

The number of inhabitants in Manaia, is from one thousand to one thousand five hundred. The people who have embraced Christianity, are diligent in their learning. Some can read the Spelling-book, and a few are beginning to read the Scriptures. Family and private prayer is strictly observed among them, and they pay great respect to their teacher; and although the king and the principal part of the people are still idolaters, yet they are all upon friendly terms with Davida, frequently visiting him, and bringing him presents of food. All idolatrous distinctions have been abandoned by those who have embraced Christianity in the island, and there is reason to hope that the Gospel will be embraced by every individual in it.

Infanticide being here unknown, the children are numerous. There is little sickness among the people, and the diseases are few. They display great ingenuity in the fabrication of their cloth, canoes, stone axes, and ear-ornaments. Their heads are profusely covered with figured cloth, red beads, and sinnet of beautiful workmanship. Their language approaches nearer to that of New Zealand than Tahitian.

The teachers have been industrious in cultivating yams, pumpkins, and melons, all of which were before unknown here; fowls, also, and hogs have been introduced, and are upon the increase. We left with the teachers some sweet potatoes for seed, which will prove a valuable addition to their stock of eatables.

RAROTONGA,

October 5.-Arrived at Rarotonga. We went on shore, and were welcomed by the teachers (Papeiaha and Tiberio), and a considerable number of the people. It being the evening of the week-day lecture, I addressed a congregation of about one thousand five hundred persons, from Psalm cxviii. 1.j O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; The because his mercy endureth for ever. greatest attention was paid to what was spoken. I spent the evening with the king and teachers, who consulted me upon the general affairs of the islands, and informed me what had taken place during the past six months.

Since the vessel was here last, the most determined hostility had been manifested by the remaining idolaters, against those who had embraced the Gospel, and had eventually led to a conflict, which terminated, without loss of life on either side, in victory on that of the Christians. The vanquished have since entreated their names to be enrolled as worshippers of Jehovah, and the cumbrous deities, fourteen in number (being about 20 feet long, and 6 feet in diameter), are now lying prostrate, like Dagon of old.

The chapel, 240 feet by 42, is an excellent native building, well plastered. The king's house, 36 feet by 24, is plastered, and taste. fully fitted up in the interior, with painted cloth and ornamental shells. It contains eight rooms, with boarded floors. Adjoining, is another plastered house, 138 feet by 20, in which the king eats, and where his servants and dependants reside. Makea is a fine handsome man, much resembling, in his features, the late King Pomaré. He has eight sons and four daughters. The house in which the two teachers reside, is another good building, 90 feet by 30, most of it floored with boards, and containing various apartments, furnished with bedsteads, sofas, arm-chairs and tables, all of native manufacture. There are several hundred houses in the settlement, of which one hundred and eighty are plastered.

The king and principal chiefs can read well in the Tahitian Spelling-book, and hundreds, yea, I may say, thousands of men, women and children are making rapid progress in learning. Dr. Watts's Catechism of Scripture Names they have learned per fectly, as well as the Tahitian Catechism. Family and private prayer is generally observed. Plurality of wives is entirely abolished. The people show great respect to their teachers. Three kings (or principal chiefs) formerly governed the island, (viz. Makea, Tinomana, and Pa,) between whom frequent and bloodly wars formerly raged; but now, by universal consent, the whole power is vested in Makea; and thus contention for power, that apple of discord, has been wisely

east away by the islanders. Cannibalism and infanticide also have ceased. The population of this island may be safely esti mated at from six to seven thousand. The people are much given to cultivation, and men, women and children are continually employed on their plantations.

In the evening, those who had been bap. tized made a feast, to which we were invited; and while we were partaking of the luxuries of the island, several of the natives got up and made some sensible speeches. One observed, that our Lord foretold Peter's denial; let us also (added he) beware lest we deny him in our hearts. Another made some judicious remarks on John iii, 6; That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. And I must confess, I was surprised to hear such addresses from those who so short a time ago were ignorant idolaters. After this meeting was concluded, we retired to the chapel, where I was employed in re-writing down the names of the candidates, previous to baptism on the morrow.

October 7.-About noon, the people as sembled at the chapel, to the number of two thousand. I addressed them from Matt. xxviii. 20, Teaching them to observe all things, &c. &c.; after which I baptized one hundred and ninety-four adults, and one hundred and two children. The greatest order prevailed during the whole service. In the afternoon I had a meeting with the young people and children. About seven hundred attended. They correctly answered every question in Dr. Watts's Catechism. I afterwards addressed them, and concluded with prayer. On this island, the Lancasterian system of instruction could be fully acted upon, as the young people and children cannot leave home, such is the extent of the population, without danger of starvation.

I

In the evening, the people held their stated Friday evening meeting, in the chapel, which was lighted up with candle-nut oil. About three thousand were present. commenced with prayer and an address, after which several passages of Scripture were correctly quoted and appropriately applied by the natives. The two deacons who accompanied me then addressed them in an encouraging manner. I could not help contrasting the behaviour of the people now,

Infanticide was confined to female children. There were formerly arreois among the people of this island, but they never murdered their children.

In the Society Islands, where, before the people embraced Christianity, the popu lation had been so much reduced by wars, infanticide, &c. the chidren ramble from place to place, and from island to island, always sure of procuring the means of subsistence.

with what I witnessed on our former visit. We were then afraid to land, conceiving our lives would have been endangered; but now we felt as easy as though we had been among our own people. Then the natives came alongside the vessel without any clothing at all, but now the greatest propriety in dress was manifested among all classes. At our former visit, the Tahi tian teachers were compelled to keep watch the whole night, to preserve their wives from the violence of Makea; but how he has given up all his own wives (formerly eight in number) except one. He is constant at school, is diligent in his attendance on the means of grace, and approves of every plan that is proposed for the spiritual and temporal benent of his people. There is also, apparently, more modesty among the females of this island, than on any other in the South Seas with which I am acquainted.

October 8. In the morning the people again assembled at the chapel. I addressed them on the subject of the new birth, after which, I baptized one hundred and twentynine adults and seventy-one children, making altogether four hundred and ninety-six, who have been baptized during our present visit. One thousand were baptized formerly, so that the whole number of those who have now received the ordinance of baptism on this island, is one thousand four hundred and ninety-six. On this occasion, the number of natives present could not have been less than from three thousand five hundred to four thousand.

The Tahitian teachers, Papeiha and Tiberio, deserve great commendation for their activity and diligence in their work. They have taught the people to make bedsteads, sofas, chairs, &c. They have themselves acquired a great deal of the Rarotongian dialect, and, when reading the Scriptures, giving out the Tahitian Hymns, and in their prayers and addresses, they substitute numerous words of the Rarotongian dialect instead of the Tahitian, that the people may more clearly understand the Word of Life; so that I am now more convinced than ever of the necessity of a Version of the Scriptures, for the use of the natives of Harvey-Islands, and the sooner it is commenced the better.

Much has been said in Europe, &c. con cerning the success of the Gospel in the Society Islands, but it is not to be compared with its progress in Rarotonga. In the Society Islands, European Missionaries laboured for fifteen long years before the least fruit appeared. But two years ago, Rarotonga was hardly known to exist; was not marked in any of the charts, and on our last voyage we spent much time in endea vouring to ascertain whether or not there really was such an island; and all the guid❤

ance we were able to obtain, was from the king of Atui, who had never seen it himself. Two years ago the Rarotongians did not know there was such a name as JESUS, or such good news as the Gospel. And now, I scruple not to say, that their attention to the means of grace, their regard to private and family prayer, their diligence and their general behaviour, equals, if not excels, whatever has been witnessed at Tahiti and the neighbouring islands. When we look at the means, it is the more astonishing. Two Tahitian teachers, not particularly distinguished among their own countrymen for intelligence, have been the instruments in working this wonderful change, and that before a single European Missionary had set his foot upon the island. I have been accustomed to see such changes as have taken place in the various islands of these seas, but I must confess, what I have seen in Rarotonga has, nevertheless, excited in me surprise. I could not help earnestly desiring the presence of my Brother Williams, that as he had shared some disappointments with me last voyage, so he might share with me the joy, which the change which has since taken place is cal culated to produce. From the great number of its inhabitants, and the general aspect of affairs in the island, there appears reason to expect Rarotonga will become one of the most important among the missionary sta. tions in these seas. We left a large supply of elementary books, and, after giving the teachers a word or two of encouragement, and taking leave of the king and people, we went on board, and stretched across for Aitutake.

AITUTAKE.

October 10.We lay off the island all the last night, and this morning several natives came off in a canoe, to ascertain who we were, and after being informed, hastened back to communicate the intelligence. The settlement had a very interesting appearance from the vessel. It extends upwards of two miles in length, and the numerous white cottages, shaded by large aito trees, scattered here and there along the beach, have a pleasing and picturesque effect.

We were kindly welcomed by the native teachers, and by all classes of the people. After conversing with Paumoana and Mataitai upon the affairs of the station, and informing them of the success of the Gospel at Manaia and Rarotonga, I walked to view the settlement. The chapel that Brother Williams and I opened when we were here together in 1823, which was then in an unfinished state, has been since completed. It is well floored with boards. Down the middle are hung eight chandeliers, with twelve

The teachers.

lamps, and around the walls are placed, at equal distances, sixty-six lamps, making altogether one hundred and sixty-two lamps, which, when lighted up, have a very good effect. They have also built a coral pier, 600 feet in length, and 18 feet in breadth. The number of plastered houses here is one hundred and forty-four, in many of which are bedsteads and sofas. The houses of the principal chiefs are substantial buildings, but they are not so well finished as those at Rarotonga. The female teachers have taught the women to make good bonnets, and the men have also well-made hats. The general appearance and conduct of the people have greatly improved since my former visit, for, although the natives of this island had then embraced Christianity, much of the savage manner and behaviour remained, but now decency and order are conspicuous in their demeanour. They are diligent in learning, and numbers can read. Family and private prayer is universal. In the evening the people assembled in the chapel, to the number of one thousand four hundred, when I addressed them from Matt. iii. 12-Whose fan is in his hand, &c. The baptized afterwards presented me with a few mats and some native cloth, for Brother Williams and myself, and the whole congregation then came forward to shake hands with me, in token of their pleasure at my visit. The two deacons who accompanied me addressed them on the great change which had taken place among them, and exhorted them to steadfastness in the ways of the Lord. In the evening the chapel was lighted up, when I met them again, and re-wrote the names of the candidates, previous to their being baptized on the morrow.

The people assembled about nine o'clock, when I preached to them from Luke iii. 16-I indeed baptize you with water, &c. After which I baptized two hundred and fifteen adults and children; four hundred had been previously baptized, which makes a total of six hundred and fifteen adults and children. In all these services the greatest stillness and attention prevailed, which were not so conspicuous formerly; but now, no congregation in England could attend with more propriety on the sacred ordinances of religion, than the people of Aitutake.

After the services in the morning I collected the young people and children, to the number of two hundred, when they repeated their catechism in a very perfect manner, after which I addressed them on the character of Timothy, and concluded with prayer. I again met the teachers, and after exhorting them to be diligent in the good work in which they were engaged, giving them requisite instructions, and leaving a good

The lamps are made of cocoa-nut shells,