September 1828: "For this part of the world," Mr. H. Williams says, "it is a noble building, and calls forth the praise and admiration of the Natives"-Scholars; 61 men and boys, 32 females-Mr. W.Williams is compiling a Dictionary: the Litany has been translated-P. 127. his return to his labours, embarked, with his wife, the Rev. A. N. Brown, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Hart, in April, for New Zealand: see pp. 158, 198. The "Active" has been purchased and sent out (p.579) to supply the loss of the "Herald." At p. 201 will be found a short Obituary of Rure, a young native; at p. 284, a view of the Good Prospects of the Mission; and, at pp. 458-466, many details relative to the Natives. Of the Twelve Labourers at these Stations, all are married except Mr. Yate and Mr. Puckey: all the married have children, amounting together to 28 male and 14 female. Mr. C. Davis, on We keep as many School Children in our families as we can: which appears of the greatest importance; as the young are much benefitted by being trained up in our ways and manners, the advantage of which we have already seen in some that came to us when young, and are now living with us: they, in general, look upon their native customs with disgust, and will not pay any regard to them whatever (Missionaries) Very much of the rubbish is clearing away, and the prospect of usefulness every day more evident; and though we will not say, that those living with us, and around us, are any of them really new creatures in Christ Jesus, yet we see in some a change for the better. In many, there is a strict attention to the means of grace, and a pleasing deportment in our families (Mr. Clarke)-In one place which we visited on Sunday, the Chiefs were mending their nets: the ground about them was therefore "tapu," or sacred; and they forbad us to come within the fence: as we could not go to them, we called them; when they immediately left their nets and followed us. They said that they were not aware that it was Sunday, or they would not have worked. It is very encouraging to us to contrast the conduct and character of the Natives now, with what it was two years ago; at least, to what I conceive it must have been, from all that I can collect from the Natives themselves and from the Missionaries (Rev. W. Yate)—The state of the Mission is peace. All are advancing. The knowledge of the language is breaking in upon us day by day, and our voices are continually lifted up: much attention is paid by the Natives, and we trust that the Lord has given us grace in their sight. The Translation goes on; and we have lately introduced part of the Liturgy into our Morning and Evening Service, and shall probably continue until the whole be accomplished (Rev. W. Williams). WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Mangunga: on the Shukeangha: 1827 -John Hobbs, James Stack. Mr. and Mrs. White are on their return to their labours-Pp. 127, 284, 285, 526. Polynesia. We recommend to all our Readers, who would wish to have a complete view of the surprising change, which Christianity has been the means of effecting in different groupes of the Islands of the Pacific Ocean, to avail themselves of Mr. Ellis's " Polynesian Researches." In these two interesting volumes, compiled by an eye-witness of many of the scenes and parts which he records, not only are the nature and process of this change developed, but the circumstances which preceded it and the effects which have followed, in respect both of religion and of the state of social life, are collected with diligence and care. ISLANDS STATIONS · LABOURERS — NOTITIA. FRIENDLY ISLANDS: 20° s. 175° w. Tongataboo: 1822-John Thomas, at Hihifo; Nathaniel Turner, W. Cross, at Nukualofa Preaching in the native tongue is maintained at both Stations: at Nukualofa, 500 persons, it is said, attend met with considerable opposition from the other Chiefs for countenancing the Missionaries, and had been prevailed upon for a short time to withdraw from attending the Religious Services of the Christians, and even to close the Place of Worship, has not only permitted it to be re-opened, but has attended the Services as formerly, and is, at least, equally friendly." The Missionaries state: "As we advance in the knowledge of the language, so much the more do the people appear to be interested in what is said to them. We believe that there is a LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. FRIENDLY ISLANDS. have four or five rooms in each; have Tongataboo: 1823. -Three Native doors and window shutters, and are neatly Teachers-No report-P. 129. HARVEY ISLANDS: 19° s. 159° w. Rarotonga: 6000 inhabitants: 1821At Gnatangiia, C. Pitman; at Avarua, Aaron Buzacott, who arrived early in February 1828-The Gospel has already produced a great outward change: the people are erecting dwelling-houses and improving their plantations: they have abandoned idolatry; and most of them attend the Worship of God, and manifest a great desire of religious instruction—The want of books in the language is a serious evil: Mr. Williams, while here, translated the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Galatians, which are in the press at Huahiné. Mr. Pitman had a class of SO Young Men under his instructions-Mr. Williams made a sugar-mill; and introduced sugar-boiling into the island and at all the out-stations. Aitutaki-The people are eager to obtain books, and their diligence in learning is great: many read well. They established a Missionary Society among themselves: Mr. Williams found that they had subscribed 270 hogs, which were to be sold for the benefit of the Society. He made them a lathe, which is actively employed; and constructed a rope-machine, and taught the people to make ropes with these they were to raise subscriptions for the next year and to pay for their books-See at pp. 237, 238 a description of a Native Congregation at this island: the writer thus speaks of Aitutaki: "This island is a delightful place for a Missionary Station: the land is low and fertile. The town is nearly two miles in length: the houses, in general, are well built, and as good as village cottages in England: the whole of them have places for doors and windows, and are whitewashed without: some of them whitewashed within the walls are plastered, and the roofs are neatly covered with thatch." Mitiaro-The people treat the Native Teachers with the greatest kindness, and are attentive to their instructions. Atui-Four Native Teachers labour here with acceptance: they had suffered much, and had often escaped narrowly with their lives; but are now treated with kindness and deference. Mautii -Two Native Teachers here carry on the work with success: many of the people can read well-There are comfortable Places of Worship at all these Stations, and plastered dwellinghouses. SOCIETY ISLANDS: 16° s. 151° w. Raiatea: 1818-John Williams-Mr. Williams was detained, in his visit with Mr. and Mrs. Pitman (p. 128) to Rarotonga, nearly 12 months; returning to Raiatea in the beginning of April 1828. Mr. Bourne, who laboured here, arrived at home, with his family, in the beginning of July, on account of ill health. Tahaa Huahiné-C. Barff-Some at this Station took up the fanatic notions of those visionaries, which occasioned so much trouble and division in some of the islands; but the work prospers: the congregations are large and attentive, and the schools well attended. The people are all busy, in forming plantations, building boats, and erecting houses-Mr. Barff occupies all the time that he can spare from other labour in carrying on the translation of the Scriptures. Borabora-G. Platt-Some of the people are established in the Faith: most of those who were led astray by false teachers profess repentance, and are attentive to the Means of Grace: in general, the minds of the people are advancing in strength and knowledge: 34 were added to the members during the year, and there were nearly 100 candidates-Since 1824, there have been 40 more births than deaths. Maupiti-Two Native Teachers-The ferment excited by the Visionaries (p. 130) had subsided; and Mr. Platt was in hope of recovering the people from the evils into which they had been seduced. Maiaoiti-Three Native TeachersOn a visit paid by Mr. Barff, 7 communicants were added to the previous number-The population increases; and great improvements are made in respect of roads, houses, and gardens. When Mr. Williams was at Rarotonga, the people built, under his direction, a vessel of between 60 and 70 tons, which he has named the "Messenger of Peace." In this vessel he returned to Raiatea; Makea, the Head Chief of Rarotonga, accompanying him. At the Missionary Anniversary, held in the following month, it was determined to undertake Missions on an extensive scale; and to send Native Teachers, with all despatch, by means of the new vessel, to the various groupes of islands to the westward, as far as New Caledonia: these Teachers are to be furnished by the chief of the Harvey, Society, and Raivaivai Islands. Mr. Barff had four promising Young Men under preparation for this object. RAIVAIVAI ISLANDS: 240 s. 1490 w. Raivaivai-Tubuai-Rimatara-Ru rutu-Rapu: 14 Native Teachers from Tahiti. In December 1828, Mr. Williams visited Rurutu and Rimatara. At Rurutu, a New Chapel, 60 or 70 feet by 40, and far superior to any building of the kind in the islands, was opened on the 2d of January: the people have been taught to read and to understand the Scriptures: there are few or no adults who cannot read: the Auxiliary remitted, by Mr. Williams, 661. 4s. 8d. to the Parent Society a Sugar-mill was con structed by him in the island. The set tlement at Rimatara, consisting of a long row of white cottages of a large size, has a fine appearance from the sea: about 80 persons can read. No account has been received of the other islands of this groupe. GEORGIAN ISLANDS: 17° s. 149° w. Tahiti: 1797-At Waugh-town, C. Wilson; at Hankey-city, H. Nott; at Wilks' Harbour, G. Pritchard; at Bur. der-point, David Darling; at Haweistown, John Davies; at Bogue town, W. B. Crook; and, at Roby-town, W. Henry Public Worship, Religious Meetings, and Schools have been maintained: many, who had been led away by Visionaries, have repented: in some Congregations, the number of hearers is great, and their attention fixed; in others, though the attendance is kept up, but little progress is visible-Numerical Returns from these Stations are imperfect: 53 adults are reported as baptized, and 13 as candidates; 44 admitted to the communion, 36 candidates, and 4 excluded: 11 deaths of communicants; 210 school children, and 100 adults; 600 hearers at Burder-point, and 300 at Roby-town, with 140 communicants at this last Station. These numbers are all, however, from partial returns-A New Chapel, 110 feet by 50, has been built at Hankey-city. Mr. Nott has been chiefly occupied in translating: the New Testament is finished; and was about to be put to press in a new and uniform edition, the first edition having been printed at different times and in separate books. "The whole of the New Testament," Mr. Darling writes, now read with facility and delight, by many at all the Stations." 66 is Eimeo-At Blest-town, Elijah Armitage, Artisan; at Griffin-town, J. M. Orsmond, T. Blossom (Artisan) — No report of the Cotton Factory under Mr. Armitage-The South-Sea Academy, under Mr. Orsmond, had 23 Students: the Fourth Annual Examination, in March 1828, was highly satisfactory. At the Tenth Missionary Anniversary, held in May 1828, it appeared that 1000 gallons of cocoa-nut oil had been sub-` scribed in Tahiti in the year, and 350 in Eimeo. "The Islands," Mr. Nott writes, in November, "are in peace; and the Missionaries, at every Station, labouring with faithfulness and diligence." Mr. Platt says "I have been supplying the Churches at Eimeo for a month, and have visited most of the stations on Tahiti. Those who have embraced the truth, at all the stations, continue apparently steady; and though there a few difficulties and perplexities in the Mission, yet the prospects are pleasing." MARQUESAS: 90 s. 1390 w. The two Tahitian Teachers, stationed in Tahuata, escaped from the island, at the moment when the wild natives con templated immolating them to their idols; and the other two, placed in Uahou, though the King treated them well, wished, on account of public disturbances, to return to Tahiti. See pp. 128-132 of our last Volume. On reviewing the information received from the South-Sea Missions during the past year, while the Directors have few facts particularly interesting or new to present to the Society, it is matter of devout satisfaction to find, that, though all who have professed the Gospel have not held it fast, nor all who still maintain that profession adorn it, the work is not retrograding, but maintaining its ground, and gradually advancing: the Churches generally enjoy peace, and the Missionaries all that influence which could reasonably be expected. Civilization goes on with as much rapidity as the peculiar circumstances of the islands will admit: the building of a vessel of 60 tons burden, fit for those seas, of materials chiefly found in the islands, and with the aid of native workmen, is alone an extraordinary proof of the progress which has been made, as well as of the ability and skill of Mr. Williams, under whose direction it has been executed. In the course of the year, the Directors have had the state of the islands very fully under their consideration; and nothing but the state of the Society's resources has kept them from adopting at once some important measures, (which, however, are only kept in abeyance,) the effect of which, they are persuaded, would operate most beneficially both on the religious and secular interests of the people. The remoteness of the situation of the islands from those countries with which trade could be advantageously carried on-the nature of the productions of the islands, which are not such as to afford encouragement to mercantile enterprise—the jealousy of the Natives in regard to the occupation of their lands by those whom they still regard as Foreigners, though they respect them as Teachers-together with the great difficulty which the Missionaries have in finding suitable means of employing or providing for their children, now grown numerous on the islands—all these things, together, present a very peculiar combination of difficulties to the carrying forward of the work, which the Society has been honoured to commence, and which it has so long laboured to promote. (Report.) AMERICAN BOARD OF MISSIONS. SANDWICH ISLANDS. Hawaii: 1820, renewed 1824-At Kairua; Asa Thurston, Artemas Bishop; Delia Stone, As.: at Kaavaroa; S. Ruggles; T. Hopoo, Nat. As: at Waiakea; Joseph Goodrich; John Honorii, Nat. As. Mr. Ely, of Kaavaroa, has returned home on account of health-The death of Mrs. Bishop, in February 1828, was the occasion of much seriousness among the natives at Kairua: a deep and solemn impression was made on a great number. At Waiakea, the Place of Worship, which held 1000 persons, became too small: in the six months previous to August 1828, there was an accession of 1000 scholars. Oahu: 1820-At Honoruru; Hiram Bingham, Ephraim Weston Clark; Mary Ward, As.; Levi Chamberlain, Secular Superintendant; Gerrit E. P. Judd, M. D. Physician; Stephen Shepard, PrinterThe attention of the Natives at this station to preaching and to schools is less general than at any other station at the Sandwich Islands, on account of the baleful influence of foreigners; but "it is probably greater even here" say the Committee," than at any other Missio nary Station in the world, except in the Islands of the Pacific and on the Western Coast of Africa." Tauai: 1820-At Waimea; S.Whitney, Peter Johnson Gulick; Maria C. Ogden, As.-This Station had been suspended for a year previous to the arrival of the last reinforcement of Missionaries. Mauai: 1823-At Lahaina; W. Richards, Lorrin Andrews, Jonathan Smith Green; Maria Patten, As.; Stephen Pupuhi, Taua, Nat. As.-The progress is great: in April 1828, about 1000 persons professed to be seeking the salvation of their souls. 66 In the SCHOOLS throughout the Islands, there were, at the latest Returns, not less than 43,152 scholars: no Return had been received from Tauai, but the total was estimated at 45,000. More than three-fourths are adults, and about one-half can read. Supposing," the Board ask," that to extend the means of education and confer the blessings of knowledge on unenlightened nations was the only object aimed at in Missionary Efforts, or the only one in which they were successful, would not the labour and money expended in them appear to be advantageously disposed of? and would not the desired object seem to be better accomplished than it has ever been by any other means? What other system of efforts ever, in ancient or modern times, advanced one step in changing an ignorant and degraded Heathen Population into a Nation of Readers?" In the PRINTING DEPARTMENT, two Presses are kept in as constant operation as circumstances permit. In 9 months, ending Sept. 1,1828, there were printed 51,900 copies of Hymn Books, Portions of Scripture, and Tracts, containing in all 2,417,900 pages. After the above date the operations were still more rapid. It is estimated that 600 reams of paper can now be printed in a year; which will make 22,000 volumes of 300 pages each, or 800,000 Tracts of 8 pages. The Natives are now extremely eager to supply themselves with every thing which is published in their language. They read every new para 66 graph," say the Committee," with great interest; and give as much proof of understanding what they read, as is given by the mass of the people in any country. The Word of God, whether read or preached, produces the same effects upon them, as upon other men: some of these effects are, a conviction that the Scriptures are the Word of God, a deep sense of the evil of sin, a desire to be delivered from the guilt and condemnation of sin, joy and peace in believing, and hope of final salvation." In the summer of 1827 some RomanCatholic Priests and Seculars arrived at Honoruru, to establish a Mission. The Missionaries anticipate little evil from the attempt: "for if they withhold the Scriptures," they say, "from the people, they will be ranked at once with unbe lievers; and if they give them the Scriptures, they will overthrow their own cause. See pp. 132, 133 of our last Volume. A people, not one of whom knew a single letter of any alphabet, taught to read the Word of God-45,000 Pupils in school, from a population not more than four times that number, "(all the inhabitants of the islands probably not exceeding 180,000) at Six Missionary Stations immense Congregations, as they would be esteemed in any country, regularly assembling on the Sabbath to hear the message of Salvation-the Natives almost universally desirous of gaining some knowledge on moral and religious subjects—the Sabbath very extensively observed, and a vast majority of the people impressed with the sanctity of the day-a Government of Law succeeding to the arbitrary and capricious sentences of a haughty aristocracythe voice of Prayer and Praise ascending from a thousand dwellings, and from hearts which were formerly strangers to every high and holy emotion-the Chiefs and common people coming under the influence of Divine Truth, and publicly consecrating themselves to the service of Jehovah, and committing their souls to Him as their Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier Churches of Christ formed of conscientious and pious men and women, who had lived for many years the slaves of brutal appetite, in total ignorance of God, and without any moral restraint whatever—all this has been accomplished, by the favour of Heaven, in less than nine years from the landing of the Missionaries, and amidst the niost furious opposition of earth and hell. Truly the Redeemer is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him! (Report.) Spanish-American States. THE political circumstances of these countries have thrown every thing into confusion; and, combined with that alarm which the free circulation of the Scriptures naturally awakened in many bosoms, have rather increased than diminished the difficulties in the way of benefitting the people. The omission of the Apocrypha has been eagerly seized as a pretext for prohibiting the circulation of the Scriptures. In Mexico, an Edict of the Ecclesiastical Authorities at first nearly put an end to the sales, but they were beginning to revive. In the face of these difficulties, however, there is abundant encouragement to persevere. The British and Foreign Bible Society has forwarded 11,400 copies of the Scriptures, or portions of them, within the year. Its Agents, Mr. Thomson and Mr. Matthews, have, from these copies and from their previous stores, put into circulation nearly 12,000 copies; besides those |