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tion. The Chief and his wife are married; and two other persons are preparing for baptism.

Ovalau is about thirty miles from Viwa, and we have about one hundred and forty-seven Christians at Levuka and other places, consisting of white men, and their Feejeean wives and children. Here we have two Teachers; and I have paid them several visits during the year. They are, taking them altogether, decidedly the most orderly and moral set of white men in these islands. Their wives and children are making rapid progress in reading, and several of them have been baptized. I trust the children at Levuka will become a blessing to these islands. A Missionary should, by all means, reside at Levuka. There is a population of coloured people rising up, which may be of immense use to the cause of God, if they are wisely trained their parents are desirous to instruct them aright. I can do very little for them. I must add, (though I almost fear to do so, as I know you are straitened for means,) that we can do nothing for them, unless we have more Missionaries.

Bua is about one hundred miles from Viwa, where we have now three Teachers. I have just returned from Bua, having taken a tour round Navitilevu, and visited Deumba, Beugka, Nadrogo, Ba, &c. The whole of these places are entirely heathen, and have never before been visited by a Missionary, and some of them but little by the natives themselves in this part of Feejee. I went in a small, worn-out schooner, belonging to a Rewa man; and we were exactly six weeks from leaving Rewa to reaching Viwa on our return. We should not have been more than a month, if we had had favourable winds. I may, probably, trouble you with an abstract of my journal; but I may say here, that I found the people willing to listen to instruction in almost every instance; and one Missionary, with ten native Teachers, would be an abundant blessing among them. I only say, one Missionary, though it would be a shame to send one. What could a Missionary do by himself, among such a population, and so far removed from any of his brethren? I counted one hundred towns belonging to Nadrogo itself; and there are many others dependent on them. There are also Deumba, Vidrogo, Tabua, Ba, Votua, Rakiraki, all having powerful and independent tribes, and all the westerly islands, without a single Teacher among them; and scarcely any of them, three

months ago, had so much as heard the name of "the true God," or of "Jesus Christ whom he hath sent." O that I could make every British Christian feel the full meaning of St. Paul's question: nay, is it not the question of the Holy Ghost put to us all ?" How can they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? how can they hear without a Preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent ?" O Christians, do not talk as if you pitied the Heathen of Feejee, while you keep from them that which alone can make their salva. tion possible! How can you think of dying, until you have done your utmost to place the means of salvation within the reach of every soul of man? You pray for the conversion of the world. What do you mean? Do you not know that, according to the present constituted government of God, if the world is to be saved, Christians must put into operation the means by which it is to be effected ? "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Here is the rule of government. "How then," God asks you, "shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a Preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent?" and who shall send them but the Christians of England? and who to Feejee but the Wesleyan Methodists? You have adopted Feejee as your field of labour. I beseech you, in the name of perishing thousands, send us labourers.

BUA.

I found things at Bua much as I expected. I had received a letter from Joshua, our principal Teacher there, informing me that they were at war, but giving satisfactory evidence that the lotu (or Christian) Chiefs had nothing to do with originating the war. This I found to be the case. The war is between Zuibua and Zuimoro, two brothers, the former the real King of Bua. This is the second time the pretender has raised a war at Bua; and he is not likely to gain his point at present. The Christian Chief did not join in the war until he was obliged to do so: his name is Raitono: he is a man of great influence at Bua, being the Matanivanua of the old King, as well as a Chief of considerable rank; in fact, he has more to do with the management of affairs than the King himself. There are two more men of distinction who have become

Christians, and about eighty-three people: there are also thirty-four of the people of Zuibua and Zuimoro who still profess Christianity.

The present war and other things have prevented those who have embraced Christianity from making much progress. In fact, they cannot advance as they should do, without the direct superintendence of a Missionary. The native Teachers are excellent men; but there must be, for some time to come, one Missionary, at least, on each principal station; and I believe the Lord Jesus would send two, if he had the management of the affair. We can visit but little the persons who are one hundred or more miles distant; and even when we do visit them, we cannot remain long; whereas these people are like children, and require "line upon line, and precept upon precept," or they will only become Christians to disgrace the Christian name, and hinder the universal diffusion of Christianity in these islands of the sea. The mode of calculating the number of Missionaries needed for a certain field of labour is not the same as in England. It is not fair to say, "There is a population of three hundred thousand, and they have five Missionaries, and about thirty native Teachers." We should rather say, "Here are three hundred thousand children to be taught, (for that is what they all are,) and they are scattered over a large group of islands, some of them far distant from each other; and these have to be taught the first elements of letters and truth by five Missionaries, (one of whom has to attend to printing nearly half his time,) assisted by a number of natives, who can only be compared to boys at the head of a class, and who are not at all prepared to take a part in the regular work of conducting a school." What can they do among so many, and these many of such a character?

I now proceed to give you some account of my voyage round the island called Navitilevu. It is about three hundred miles in circumference, and contains, I suppose, nearly a third of the whole population of Feejee. Very few places on it have been visited before by a Missionary, except those in the immediate vicinity of Bau and Rewa. I had for some time felt a desire to make a tour round it; and hearing that an old schooner was going to the western part of it, for the purpose of trading, I asked the owner to take me to the principal places, and then to Bau. This he engaged to do, and also to land me on

Ovalau, if not on Viwa, on my way home. I need not say that I had to endure many things which would be called hardships at home; but it was much more safe going in this schooner, though a miserable craft, than in a canoe.

Thursday, April 6th, 1843.-This morning we left Rewa for Nukulau, an island about six miles from Rewa, which we reached in a short time. We had intended to remain there for the night; but as the sun was four or five hours high, we thought it would be well to go on as far as we could; and, having a fine breeze, we reached an island called Namuka before sun-set. We went ashore, and found a pretty little island with out an inhabitant. The natives are often afraid of residing on small islands, as they are so much exposed in time of

war.

I had a long conversation with some of the ship's company, and I trust succeeded, by the blessing of God, in making some impression on their minds. I believe we shall not have so much swearing again on board as we have had to-day.

7th. We had a full view of poor Suva this morning, where we once had a few Christians. Yesterday the town was reduced to ashes, and many of its inhabitants killed and eaten by the Rewa people. We saw several canoes which had gone in search of the miserable remnant. The Christian Chief is still alive.

We reached Deuba, a chief town in Navitilevu, about noon. We went ashore immediately, and found a small town a short space up the river; but, finding no Chiefs there, we proceeded to the place where the Chiefs reside. This is a large, well-built town, and has a fine buri. They are at war with an inland tribe, and are making the best preparations they can for the security of the place. The third Chief took me round the town, and we had a long conversation about the evils of war and the blessedness of religion. He said it was all good, and it was quite according to his mind to have some one to reside at Deuba to teach them all about the lotu. I and the owner of the schooner conversed for some time with an elder brother of this Chief in the evening, and he seemed of the same mind; but they could say nothing deci dedly, as the King was not at home. They agreed, however, to tell him all that I had said on his return; and when they had all talked together on the subject, they would send me word, as to whether they would have a Teacher at once, or not,

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We were detained at Deuba until the 12th, so that I had many opportunities of conversing with the Chiefs and people. The Lord gave me great liberty in speaking to them, so that this has been to them a time of visitation. I was glad also to find a young Chief from Nadroga, who seemed very willing to receive instruction. I may observe that, although the dialect of Deuba is very different from that of Bau, or Rewa, yet the Chiefs both of Deuba and Nadroga understood the Bau dialect, so that I was able to converse with them.

We have to use curious proofs and illustrations in talking to such natives about religion. I do not think that the Feejeeans are at all acute in the art of reasoning; and it is somewhat difficult to convince them of the truth of anything by arguments. They will never use an argument to prove the truth of their own religion: they know nothing of abstract reasoning. You cannot convince them that it is impossible that there should be two Gods, from considering the Divine nature or government: the only way in which I could succeed, was, by showing them that, if we men had two makers, it would have been impossible that we should have all been made alike. I said, "See, that man has two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet, the same as I have; his nose is above his chin, the same as mine; we are exactly alike, except in the colour of our skin, and that is only the outside skin. Now, how is it possible that Deorgei could imitate Jehovah?" They all said, "True; there is but one who made us, and that is Jehovah." "Yes," I replied, "it must be so, or we could not be so much alike. How is it that your canoes are so different from our ships; and that you cannot make houses, or knives, or anything like ours ? Do you not see that the works of men are different? but all the works of God are the same in every land; because there are many men, but only one God." "Edina Zine," was the only reply; and then they talked about it among themselves. They were much pleased with our accounts of the creation and the fall of man, of the destruction of the old world and the deliverance of Noah, of the destruction of Sodom, of the love and work of Jesus Christ, and of heaven and hell, &c.

13th. This morning the wind was favourable; but we were only able to reach the island of Benka, about twelve miles from Deuba. I went on shore, and had a long conversation with the Chief

of Rukua. He did not seem much disposed to listen to instruction, his whole mind being taken up with the attainment of riches.

Noah, one of my young men whom I had with me, went ashore to sleep, and conversed almost all night with the second Chief, a fine old man, who was much pleased with what he heard; so that there is a little seed thrown here also. The Lord water it!

Bega is a pretty island: it has twelve or fourteen towns on it, and the greater part of it is subject to Rewa. Here is a large cave, which is sometimes used as a burying-place for Chiefs, and a tree which, it is said, always flowers when the westerly wind is likely to blow it was true yesterday, as it was in full flower, and the westerly wind blows to-day. The natives say the tree will not grow any where but at Bega; that the god of Bega can only make it take root and grow.

16th, Sunday.-While we were holding our service on deck, a strong wind from the westward sprang up; but it was directly contrary. We, however, made all the sail we could, and ran over to an island called Vatulele, about fifteen miles out of our course. We came to anchor before sun-set. I and Noah went ashore. We found the principal Chief ill, to whom we preached the good Physician of body and soul. I left Noah to spend the evening with them, as he has now got fully into the way of declaring the good tidings when he has an opportunity.

We lay off Vatulele till the 19th; so that I had many opportunities of going ashore to instruct the natives, who seemed willing to learn.

On the 18th one of the Chiefs accompanied me to see a celebrated place, the residence of the goddess of Vatulele, about seven miles from our anchorage.

The objects of the superstitious veneration of these poor creatures are nothing more than a number of red crustaceous fishes, larger than a shrimp. There are abundance of them in Feejee; but there they are generally of a dark brown colour when alive, and become red when cooked: the living fish being red here, is no doubt the reason why they are considered as supernatural. The mother of the fish is said to be of an immense size, and to reside in a large cave by herself; and her children leave her when they are called by their name, which in Feejeean is Ura. The path to the cave lies through a part of the island, which for two miles is a perfect garden; nothing

is to be seen but bread-fruit and cocoanut trees, with banaan plantations, the best cultivated I ever saw. About half way we found a small town, where they provided food for us, to the inhabitants of which I had a good opportunity of recommending the bread of life.

We reached the sacred spot soon after noon. The first part we visited consists of a large cave, perhaps twenty feet high by fifteen wide, and twenty yards long. This communicates with another, about the same width and much longer. The bottom of both these places is lower than the beach, so that the water remains in them when the tide has retired. The Chief stood at the mouth of the cave, and called out with all his might, "Ura, Ura, come, that the Chief from England may see you." There was no answer, however, and only a very few of the fish appeared, which were all there before he began to call. We then went to the other place, I by land, and they by means of a passage under ground, a kind of natural tunnel, which has some depth of water in it. I expected the mother would make her appearance now; but neither she nor many of her children seemed willing to show themselves. I now began to encourage him to call aloud, and make them come; but it was all to no purpose: a few of them moved about at the bottom of the water, but took no notice of their worshipper.

I tried to convince him of the folly of considering such things as these to be gods, and he was much interested with my remarks. Sometimes he seemed all but determined to become a Christian at once; and I believe this was to him a day of visitation.

This people are subject to Rewa, and they are too much afraid of becoming Christians to be at once decided. If Rewa would take the lead, we should soon have one hundred thousand professed Christians in Feejee. There are four towns on the island of Vatulele; and it is, altogether, a lovely spot: "only man is vile." I left the island, grateful to God for the many precious opportunities I had of preaching Jesus to its ignorant inhabitants.

19th. This morning we had a favourable wind, which took us nearly to Nadroga: it then became a perfect calm, so that we were obliged to remain all night at sea.

20th. We caught a large shark this morning, and I obtained his teeth and back-bone for my part of the spoil. We soon after had a breeze, which took us to Nadroga. I went ashore as soon as

possible. Mr. Wilson, a Lincolnshire man, who is living here, was in good health, and very glad to see me. We waited on the Chiefs that night, and found them disposed to receive a Teacher as soon as the present war is over. There are two principal Chiefs at Nadroga, and two important towns, near each other. The Chiefs are of one mind with respect to religion; and their sons, who now take an active part in the affairs of government, seem quite agreeable to its introduction among them. The white man living there, Mr. Wilson, has already persuaded them so far to observe the Sabbath as not to go to war on that day. I counted the names of one hundred towns which belong to them, or are dependent on them.

Nadroga is a place of great importance. A Missionary there would have direct access to one hundred and fifty towns, and our way would also be opened to the whole of this part of the group. The Chief of Nadroga ranks with the Kings of Feejee; and I consider it, therefore, a good sign, that he is disposed to receive a native Teacher until he can have a Missionary. I must inform the Committee, that I gave this people every reason to expect an English Missionary. I hope you will not allow me to mislead them.

22d. This morning we left Nadroga for Ba, sixty or seventy miles distant: a place of bad report in Feejee.

We did not reach Ba till the 27th, in consequence of the wind being light and often contrary. I did not think it prudent to go ashore at once, till we had seen some of the natives, and gained a little of their confidence. Several of the Chiefs came off, and seemed much disposed to trade; so that I saw we were likely to be here some time, in order to make preparations for getting a cargo of beech-le-mar.

The second Chief of the place told me, that he wished to have me for his friend, almost as soon as he saw me. I gladly accepted the challenge, and always after called him Noquitau, "My friend;" and he did the same to me, and acted accordingly.

29th. I went ashore this morning, and my friend Zogabale took me up a fine river, to see his town. He and one of his men pulled the boat, and I steered her; so that they had me completely in their power.

We called at a small village, about a mile up the river, and remained a short time the Chief gave orders to prepare food for us by the time we should re

turn, and we then proceeded on our way.

We soon reached Votua, my friend's

town.

It is large for a Feejee town, and in a fine flat country, covered with large ivi-trees, a kind of chestnut; the houses being built among them,-which makes the place beautifully shady and cool. We did not remain here very long. I gave a short account of the lotu to a number of people in my friend's house. All was new to them; but they seemed pleased as far as they understood what I said to them. They were delighted beyond every thing with my unbrella, as they had not seen one before: they ran after me in crowds as I passed along, to gaze upon the wonderful thing.

We returned to the village, where the people were cooking our dinner; and we found it ready prepared, and had a good appetite to welcome it. After our repast, and a short conversation about religion, we set off back again to the Beech-le-mar house, where I had another opportunity of conversing with a people who are the most ignorant of any I have met with, but who are very willing to learn. We returned to the schooner before dark, where I found a patient, whom I had taken on board a day or two before, much worse. She was a New-Zealander, the wife of a Mr. Phillips, owner of a schooner called the "Neptune." We had spoken with the schooner three days before, and had taken the poor woman on board at the request of her husband, who thought, if she could be conveyed to Viwa, she might recover. There was, however, no probability of this; but I was willing to do what I could. On Sunday morning she became still worse, and we were afraid she would die before we could reach some desolate or Christian island, on which to bury her; for we dared not bury her near Ba, knowing that the natives would take her up again, for the sake of obtaining the box in which her body was enclosed. We made all sail, and thought we should reach a sandisland before dark. The poor creature died about noon. I made many inquiries about her soul; but could learn very little of her state. Yet I believe she feared God, and have hope in her death. W'e could not reach the island; and, as the weather was very hot, and we had but a small vessel, we thought it would be unsafe to keep her till morning. We therefore went ashore, I and my man Noah, and two of the ship's company.

We had no spade; but managed to dig her grave with our hands and a

pole. Here we laid the remains of poor Mary, far from her own native land, and under circumstances of a very melancholy nature. It was quite dark before we finished her grave, which rendered it impossible to read any part of the usual funeral-service, as we had no lantern ; so we kneeled down on the spot, and prayed with hearts full of sadness and sorrow. The darkness of the night seemed to add to the solemnity of the scene: altogether, it was one of the most touching circumstances of my life.

For many successive days we had unfavourable winds; so that, although we were now not more than one hundred and twenty miles from Bua, we did not reach it until the 11th of May. I need give you no account of this time. It was a trying, but also a profitable, season to me; and I now began to be concerned for Mrs. Hunt, as the specified time for making the whole voyage was past, and we had no prospect of reaching home for the present. I had many temptations, many blessings, and many opportunities of speaking for my Master, especially to the ship's company. This, though the most painful, was to me the most useful, part of the tour.

May 11th. We ran over from Navitilevu yesterday, and reached a part of the island called Thakaundrori before dark. This morning we arrived at Bua. I went ashore, and found the "Triton" had been here but a few days before, and had taken away two of my Teachers as pilots. She had been to Rotuma, and is on her way back to Tonga with Mr. Thomas and Mr. F. Wilson on board. One Teacher was left to take care of their house, from whom I learned something further of the state of things at Bua. There seemed to be no prospect of doing anything at Bua, as the Teachers were away, and the people fully engaged in war; so I had a conversation with the lotu Chiefs, and those of the people who were at home. I succeeded in persuading the wife of Raitono, the principal lotu Chief, to become a Christian, and then had a public service with them; after which we went on board.

14th, Sunday. This has been 8 blessed day to me. I preached to the ship's company from, " He that covereth his sins shall not prosper," &c.; and the Lord enabled me to be very plain. I am now clear, I trust, of the blood of these men. I have taught then, publicly and privately, the things which make for their peace. I have had, in English, family prayer in the cabin, such as it was, ever since I left Ba, and some of them have attended to this means of

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