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and upon its completion, if the trade did not answer their expectations, might proceed to Canton, without incurring much risk, or losing much time. And thus one or two out-of-season ships could annually touch at any station selected, and by administering to the health and comfort of the missionaries, afford material service to the cause in which they are engaged.

But whence the necessity of holding out a temporal reward, as an inducement to Christians, to discharge their duties? What but the glory of the Redeemer, can be the object of commerce in the purposes of God, and what could more loudly proclaim this object, than the sanctification of many to Himself, to whom He has intrusted the talent of such extensive usefulness? "Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far.”

If ships are to be employed in the benevolent plans of the Savior, who that understands his own honor, as well as duty, would hesitate to favor these purposes, and thus identify himself, and his possessions, with the instrumentality employed in the regeneration of a world.

After leaving the straits of Dampier, the wind obli. ged us to stand off in nearly an easterly direction. On the 8th of February we descried the Pelew islands. The vigilant natives were as sharp-sighted as our. selves. Their distant abodes had scarcely spotted our horizon, before we perceived a number of sails, feathering the ocean, and advancing in our pursuit. One proa intersected our course and awaited our arrival. As we passed they attempted to gain the lee of the ship, but were disappointed. As quick as thought,

their sail was hoisted, and the effort renewed. The progress of the ship was checked--a rope was thrown them, which they caught, but the result was again unfortunate. Their

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boat was drawn under the counter of the ship, and they were compelled to aban-/ don their hold. Discouraged and unnerved by this second defeat, they remained a long time stationary and motionless; as though indulging the listlessness of disappointment, or endeavoring in vain, to re-excite their hopes and energies for another trial.

Their proa was apparently the excavated trunk of a tree. Its breadth bore no proportion to its length. The sail was triangular; to the windward side was attached an out-rigger, projecting about three feet. On this as many sat as were necessary to preserve the balance of the boat, while one was constantly employed in discharging the water, received from every

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The crew was composed of six persons of both sex

Some of them had huge pendants in their earsall were perfectly denuded. The performance of their canoes and the skill and dexterity with which they manage them, are surprising. They come dancing over the waves like "fairy sprites,” and with a velocity, which it demands a stiff breeze and rough sea for a ship to equal. One or two of them continued in

pursuit of us, until their small islands were left below our horizon, and themselves shut in by the shades of the evening.

The natives of this group were formerly represented as the mildest and most benevolent specimens of unenlightened men. This character they have lately

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lost by attempts at violence, which prove that their previous kindness was neither natural, nor the result of principle. When they learned the uses of iron, it is said that they made a desperate effort to cut off a ship, and murder all its company, to secure the object of their cupidity. As it is "the determinate counsel" of Jehovah to extend the scepter of his mercy over these benighted spots of the earth, it becomes us to whom this instrumental work is committed to devise the most expeditious mode for its accomplishment. We know of no way in which missions could be planted and sustained in this and the neighboring islands, except through the services of an itinerant ship devoted to

An attempt to explore these regions, in native vessels, would be preposterous. It could not be done without the greatest waste of time and hazard of life. And if the best position were ascertained by this means, how could families be transported to their destination-how could they receive the supplies they would require ? A ship appears to me indispensable. Nothing would more effectually restrain the barbarity of the natives; nothing more powerfully secure their respect, than the annual visits of such a vessel. The rest of her time might be employed in the same work, along the coasts of Siam, Cambia, Cochin-China, China-Corea, Japan, and other places.

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CHAPTER 11.

CHINA.

FEBRUARY 17th, 1830. Latitude 22 degrees north, longitude 115 degrees, 18 minutes east.

Early this morning we were called up to view the Chinese fishing boats, scattered in almost every direction, around us. They had ventured beyond the sight of land, and were fishing in pairs, with a net trailing between them. These small boats are human habitations, occupied by as many generations as are usually permitted to exist cotemporaneously. What a prison for intellectual beings, with perhaps no prospect of a change in this life, and without a knowledge of the immortality in the next.

It is said they are not allowed to trade with foreign vessels, and their exceeding shyness, and the government boats attending them, confirm the existence of such an interdict. Two hundred were counted at one time.

18th. To-day we caught the first view of China, while sailing in a line with its coast. The distance was too great to define any thing, but the shadowy outline of its hills.

We have passed the latitude of Formosa, which claims a notice, alike on account of its own inherent interest, and for the sad tale of missions, which its history unfolds.

A chain of mountains, extending nearly north and south, forms a natural boundary between its aboriginal inhabitants, and the Chinese. The eastern coast, in the possession of the latter, it is said by the old Dutch writers, merits the name by which it is known. The western division is inhabited by several tribes, among which is a negro race of immense size. In the early part of the seventeenth century, the Dutch introduced Christianity into this island. A number of chaplains successively engaged in the undertaking, who baptized multitudes, and gathered many congregations. Parts of the Scriptures were translated into the vernacular of the aborigines, which differs greatly from the language of the empire. These were sent to Amsterdam, with other Christian books, for publication ; but there is no evidence that they ever went through the press. ACcording to the account of the missionaries, this extensive field yielded with trifling care, and promised the most abundant fruits. But their prospects and projects were soon defeated; the island was captured by a pirate, who massacred some of the chaplains, destroyed Christianity, and re-established idolatry. This event occurred in 1661, since which period, the Chinese have spread themselves in numbers over its eastern section; at present, it is in a state of constant rebellion, the resort of the disaffected toward the government.

19th. The dawn of this morning disclosed the bluff, barren peaks of the Ladrone, and neighboring islands, called by the Chinese the old ten thousand

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