SOUTH SEAS. Particulars of the Introduction of Christianity into Mitiaro and Maute, Islands belonging to the King of Atui, extracted from the Journal of Messrs. Williams and Bourne. (See Missionary Chronicle for Oct. 1824, p. 455, and note on page 454.)

WE had now time to converse with the King of Atui (i. e. after he came on board the Endeavour,) and found him a very interesting, sensible, and inquisitive young man. We spent the whole afternoon in conversation with him. Towards evening his mind began to waver. He desired Maratai,* of whom he seemed very fond, to ask us if he should be obliged to cut off his hair, in case he embraced the Gospel. We immediately set his mind at rest on that subject. He then expressed his determination to destroy his maraes, and embrace Christianity, saying, that he would not go with us now, (i. e. to the Society Islands,) as he could not go under the same favourable circumstances as those under which Tamotoa, King of Aitutake, would go, who had already destroyed his maraes, and burnt his idols, and erected and opened his chapel; but that when he had done the same, then he would visit us.

We now retired to rest, but the old chief from Aitutake, and the native teachers from Atui, kept up a conversation the whole night, on the expected destruction of idolatry, and the erection of a chapel, in the island of Mitiaro, to which we were going.

A few weeks ago, Roma a tane, the King of Atui, sent orders to Mitiaro to erect a large house for him, as he intended celebrating a great feast there. "Now (said the king) the posts collected for that sacred house intended for the Evil Spirit will do well for the Fare bure raa, (praying-house,) the building of which we will desire them to commence immediately." He further said, that on his return to Atui he would call a meeting of all his chiefs and people, to make known to them his determination to become a Christian, and to propose the general destruction of idolatry. Vahineino † said to him, “Will you never return to the worship of idols ?" "No, (replied he,) I never will." There were three or four very large idols in the vessel. Tamotoa, the King of

* One of the native teachers from Borabora, sent by Mr. Orsmond to Atui.

+ One of the teachers from Raitea, who accompanied Messrs. Williams and Bourne, in the Endeavour.

Aitutake, said, "Behold the things which have killed us, logs of wood!" "Yes, (replied the King of Atui,) they are only wood that we have decorated, and called gods." The next morning the King of Atui expressed a wish to purchase an axe to cut down posts for a chapel. We promised to present him with one. His heart seemed fally bent on the accomplishment of his purpose. It being the Sabbath, Mr. Williams preached from Mark xvi. 15 and 16. The King of Atui paid great attention during the whole of the service. He afterwards conversed on what he had heard, and appeared to have remarked on the truth of the last clause understood it very well, and particularly of the text, and some quotations from the Psalms and Isaiah respecting idols. Eyes, it is true, (said he,) thay have, but wood cannot see: ears they have, but wood cannot hear." He proposed various questions on different parts of the sermon, which we answered, and he appeared greatly pleased on finding that he under

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stood so much. Mr. Williams showed him the Bible, and explained to him that it was the gift of God to man, to teach him the way of salvation, through his Son Jesus Christ, asking him if his gods, Oro, Fane, or Tangarva, had given him a Bible. "No," (replied he,) adding, "is it in the power of wood to give a book?" It was proposed to him that we should visit Maute, (another island belonging to him,) as well as Mitiaro, to which he consented.

Reception of the Gospel at the Island of

Mitiaro.

"Yes, (replied the king,) he and all the evil spirits with him." He then charged them to behave kindly to the teacher, and to listen to his instructions. They asked him, if he would not come to the celebration of the great feast which he had ordered them to prepare. He said, "No, but I will come on a different business; I will come to behold your stead. fastness in the Good Word brought to us, and your kindness towards the teacher you have received."

Maute.

When we approached the island Maute, the chiefs and a number of the people were collected on the beach to welcome their king. The first words the king said were, "I am come to advise you to receive the word of Jehovah, the true God, and to leave with you a teacher and his wife, who will remain with you and instruct you." They replied, "That is good." The king then resumed, "Let us burn all our maraes, and all our evil spirits, with fire. Never let us worship them again. They are wood, that we have carved and decorated, and calied gods. Here is the true God, and his word, with a teacher to instruct you. The true God is Jehovah, and the true sacrifice is his Son Jesus Christ." He said further, "Erect a house in which to worship the true God, and be diligent in learning the Good Word of God." They replied, "We will do it; we will receive the Good Word that we may be saved." The king then exhorted the principal chief, Tararo, and his wife, to attend family worship that same evening, to which they immediately consented;" and on Wednesday (added he) let every person, man, woman, and child, attend the worship of the true God, and make a public profession." He then exhorted them to leave off drinking ava, to discontinue all their games and feasts, not to steal, and not to commit fornication; but, with the evil spirits, to cast off all evil customs. They asked the king, whether he would not come to the great feast they were preparing for him, and to another ceremony, at which the most disgraceful actions were practised. The king replied, that these and every other bad custom of the evil spirit would now fall, but that he would visit them again to behold their steadfastness in the Good Word. He then exhorted them to behave kindly to their teacher and his wife, whom he now called to him, shook hands with them, and gave them a new house on the island, which had been erected for himself. After this we departed.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Thomas Jones, Missionary at Papara, Otaheite; dated Jan. 29, 1824; addressed to the Treasurer and Secretary.

Honoured Sirs,-I HAVE had the pleasure yesterday of receiving your kind letter, under date March 29, 1823. It gives me pleasure to find that you both were then in the enjoyment of health, and I hope you still enjoy the same blessing. Mrs. Jones's illness has lasted

now

more than twelve months, and still continues, though not quite so violent as it once was. She is very weak and very low, and great have been my trials on that head. Pray for me. Her illness has retarded my progress in the language; but I have at last commenced preaching in the Tahitian tongue; and I find, by conversation afterwards, that the people understand the subjects I wish to explain to them.

Since I have commenced preaching, I am much engaged with the people in answering their various questions and hearing their little talk and thoughts on things, as they call them, and explaining different passages of Scripture to them. Thus, of late, I have been generally employed from five o'clock in the morning till ten at night. A short time since, at our evening family prayer, I told some of our neighbours I should be glad if they would tell those who live near them to come and join us; since that time our house has been found too small to contain the people who come, and we have been obliged to go to a large native house just at hand. Our method of conducting the worship is as follows:-First, sing a hymn; then read a portion of Scripture; then question those present on what is read, as for instance, Matt. vii. 13-Enter ye in at the strait gate, &c. What is to be understood by the strait gate?" Why is such a command given? What makes the gate strait? &c. &c. Many of the people are very ready in their answers.

Our place of worship is well attended both on the week and Sabbath-days. There is a revival of religion, I hope, among the people. Both old and young seem to be stirring up themselves and pressing forward, inquiring the way Zionward. O for that wisdom which cometh from above to direct them aright! Some of those who are anxiously seeking salvation, seemed some years ago to be concerned, but afterwards took their rest; it is to be hoped, however, that their motives are now better, as the novelty of the thing is gone. Others, that never moved before, are coming on; and this motion among the dry bones is not confined to this station, but is pretty general in the island. I was down at Pare, where Mr. Nott resides, at the monthly prayer meeting of this instant. There were fiftythree adults baptized on that day belonging to the two congregations, viz. those of Matavai and Pare. The churches at these two places are considered but as one. Our schools, both children and adult, are well attended; and our conversation meetings are crowded.

I have given you a sketch of the bright side of the cloud; it has its dark side also. Satan is not willing to lose Tahiti, small as it is, from his dominion. He is stirring up his emissaries, as was mentioned in a former letter. Many of the young people are very desirous of tatooing, or marking themselves. And, lately, some of the people, in certain parts of the island, were for war; but none of the principal chiefs were for it. Thus it appears, my dear sirs, we need a continued interest in your prayers, and in the prayers of all who say, in their approaches to the throne of grace, May thy kingdom come; for the human heart is deceitful above all things in Tahiti, as well as in Britain.

ther and sister Ellis have removed to the Sandwich Islands, with prospects of extensive usefulness, so that we are left to labour in these two little spots alone, which, I trust, we shall have grace to do consistently with the gospel.

We have been called to endure trials since I last had an opportunity of writing to the Directors. Mrs. Barff was for three weeks apparently at the very brink of the grave, so that I even despaired of her recovery; but the Lord has been better than my fears, and has graciously raised her up again, to engage with increased diligence in her wonted duties in the girls' school, &c.

The Lord continues to bless us in our labours among the people. The number of church members is between two and three hundred; I trust all pious. Nearly all the baptized adults, who have persevered consistently since their baptism, are desirous of being admitted to communion. These will be added to our number as they shall be deemed proper subjects for that ordinance.

Two good women have been called to their eternal rest, who gave a most pleasing evidence of their interest in the Saviour's love.

The number of baptized continues to increase, particularly from among those unsteady ones, who formerly gave the Judges so much trouble.

The progress of the children in the school is encouraging. In the Tahitian Report, it is mentioned, that the elder scholars who have left school have married, are erecting for themselves houses, and are likely to prove valuable members of society.

The laws introduced last May, give great satisfaction, and the revenue has been paid regularly.

We are about to form a doomsdaybook, to ascertain the proper owners of land, ere the aged are called to their rest, and leave the present generation involved in difficulties.

This is the second Anniversary Meeting the gentlemen of the Deputation have favoured us with their company, which, indeed, we shall be sorry to lose, it has been so agreeable.

be

I am copying off my translation of Isaiah, which, should it be approved by the brethren, will probably soon printed. Some catechisms also I have in readiness, intended for the Schools.

ULTRA GANGES.

MALACCA.

Extract of a Letter from Messrs. Humphreys and Collie to the Rev. Dr. Morri

son.

Anglo-Chinese College, Malacca, March 14, 1821.

Dear Robert,-BEING well assured that you feel an interest in us, and more so in the cause in which we are engaged, we feel a pleasure in communicating information to you, and more particularly when we have any thing of an interesting nature to mention. The Students in the College, we are happy to say, (generally speaking,) conduct themselves much to our satisfaction. The first class of students are now busy in the mornings committing to memory your grammar, they have also wrought sums in arithmetic as far as Simple Proportion, and are now working them over again, and putting them down in a book they have written as far as Compound Division. They have also copied, and are now committing to memory, a short compendium of the doctrines of the gospel, both in English and Chinese; they also translate Chinese books into English, and English into Chinese. They have just finished your Chinese tract on the different religions, and are now translating into Chinese the article General History from the Encyclopedia Britannica. They also read their own books; and the Scriptures, both in Chinese and English. They have also attended to geography, and read part of Murray's Grammar.

The second class are reading Chinese, and sometimes translating into English; and they read and write English every day. The other classes are also reading both Chinese and English authors.

We have received three new students into the Institution since you left us, and you will be glad to hear that they are the same lads that refused to enter (when you was with us,) on account of our intention to go to Singapore. They have continued to attend ever since, and lately offered themselves as regular students, and were accepted. There are now seven candidates for admission, and one lad who formerly left us to go to Singapore, who has studied regularly in the college for nearly a year.

There are also ten students who come of an evening to learn English; including these, we have now 36 students in the college.

Our Chinese schools are just opened for the year, and our prospects in this department were never so bright at any former period. We have been induced to

open two new schools this year, one Malacca, containing 30 scholars, and one at Bata-Brundum containing 13; the latter school will occasion the Society no expense. The old Seen Sang, who taught the Chinese school in the Company, is about to return to China, and we have obtained a teacher who is considered the best in Malacca ; he has seventy in his school, and might have more. The whole number of the Chinese youths in the Mission schools is upwards of 200; nearly double the number we have ever had before.

The reading and explaining of Chinese books in the Temple is still continued, and there is frequently a considerable number present.

Both of us endeavour to lecture in Chinese to the workmen and students. We have lately distributed a considerable number of tracts and portions of the Scriptures on board of ships and junks in the roads of Malacca, and the books have been thankfully received. We continue to visit the Chinese settlements in the neighbourhood, and distribute our weekly papers and tracts; and if we happen to be longer than usual before we visit them, the people notice it, and ask the reason. At Bata-Brundum, the largest Chinese settlement in these parts, our visits have induced the people to petition for a school; we earnestly pray that it may lay the foundation of a Chinese congregation.

The Malays are still instructed in the principles of religion on Sabbath evenings.

We were lately visited by a Malay from a trading prow. He said he had formerly received a Malay bible, but, when at Sumatra, a Malay of some rank borrowed it from him, and when he asked for it again, the Sumatran said he could not part with it, it was too good a book to part with; that he (the seaman) might obtain another, but where could he get another in Sumatra? The man begged earnestly for a Bible, and we gave him one for himself, and 20 Testaments for distribution or sale. He promised to call on his return from his voyage, and inform us how he has disposed of them. These we consider as encouraging circumstances, as the Malays in general are prejudiced against our books.

PINANG.

MISSION CHAPEL, PINANG, OR PRINCE OF

WALES ISLAND.

Messrs. BEIGHTON and INCE, the Society's missionaries at Pinang, being so licitous to provide a commodious place of worship, in connexion with the mission,