he proved himself to be my most inveterate enemy; destroying our sanctuary, the Morai; and exciting against me, in. the island of Atooi, King Tamary, who had submitted to my power years before. Scheffer is there at this very moment, and threatens my islands." pp. 302-304.

Vol. I.

The king was much pleased on being assured that the misconduct of the Russians was wholly unsanctioned by the Emperor, and that he never intended to conquer the Islands. Tamaahmaah is fond of the bottle, though he is said not to indulge in excess, and he gave, after the English fashion,' the health of his Imperial Majesty, in a bumper.

'When this was done, one of his ministers presented me with a collar of coloured feathers, of admirable workmanship, which the king had worn himself on solemn days: as, for example, in time of war. He then said to me, through Cook, though he speaks tolerably good English himself, "I have heard that your monarch is a great hero; I love him for it, because I am one myself; and send him this collar as a testimony of my regard."

Tamaahmaah afterwards conducted Lieut. Kotzebue to his morai, or royal temple. Embracing one of the hideous idols outside, which was hung round more than the others with fruits and pieces of a sacrificed hog, he said, "These are our

gods, whom I worship: whether I do right or wrong, I do not know; but I follow my faith, which cannot be wicked, as ⚫ it commands me never to do wrong.'

This declaration,' adds our Author, from a savage who had raised himself by his own native strength of mind to this degree of civilization, indicated much sound sense, and inspired me with a certain emotion. While the king is gone into the morai, nobody is allowed to enter; and during that time, we admired the colossal idols cut in wood, and representing the most hideous caricatures.'

That Tamaahmaah was not quite satisfied with the senseless superstition to which, probably from political motives, he conformed, is, we think, clearly betrayed by the apology which filled Lieutenant Kotzebue with so much admiration. Yet, of the two, the poor idolater and the Christian admirer of his idols, it would be hard to say which was worse employed. Our Lieutenant's emotions, on the occasion, were any thing but those of an enlightened piety. He deprecates, indeed, the attempt to convert these amiable and peaceful islanders to Christianity; and his enmity against Missionaries breaks out on more occasions than one. After speaking of the shameful misconduct of some American captains, who have abused the king's confidence, and of the mischievous effects likely to result from it, he adds: The missionaries do them almost more injury, be

'cause, by the religious hatred which they excite, they destroy whole nations.' This assertion has a note attached to it, (p. 353.) in which we expected to find some fact or allegation in support of so bold and strange a charge; but, whether the reference is erroneous, or the proper note misplaced by the Translator, it contains not a word bearing on the subject. Dr. Chamisso, in his Remarks and Opinions, betrays a similar degree of ignorance and irreligion.

"No missionaries,' he says, ' had yet come to the Sandwich Islands; and in truth, they could promise themselves but little fruit among this sensual people. Christianity cannot be established in Eastern Polynesia, but on the overthrow of every thing existing. We do not doubt the events at Otaheite, but, at the same time, we cannot conceive of them; and M. Marin, who had previously visited these islands, told us, what is very clear, that the natives for the most part, only visited the missionaries to have the pleasure of mimicking their customs.'

M. Marin is a Spaniard, settled at Woahoo, as a farmer, who has introduced, with success, the cultivation of the vine, and of rice, and various foreign plants, and has on his estate numerous herds of cattle. The Sandwich Islands are so far under great obligations to his spirit and industry. But the 'clearness' of his assertion in the present instance, which arises entirely from its accordance with Lieut. Kotzebue's prejudices, cannot atone for its being at utter variance with notorious fact. In perfect consistency with the above misrepresentation, is the following apology for the existing religion of Owhyhee.

The human victims, who are here killed at the death of the king, princes, and distinguished chiefs, and buried with their remains, are of the lowest class. In certain families of this cast, the fate of dying with the different members of such or such a noble family, is hereditary, so that it is known at the birth of a child, at whose death he is to be sacrificed. The victims know their destination, and their lot does not seem to have any terror for them. The progressive spirit of the times has almost made this custom antiquated, which will hardly be repeated at the death of the most sacred person. When three victims, on the death of Kahumanna's mother, offered themselves to fulfil their destination, Kareimoku would not allow it, and no human blood was shed. Human sacrifices, it is true, still take place, but it would be unjust to upbraid the Owhyeeans for them. They sacrifice culprits to their gods, as we sacrifice them in Europe to justice. Every land has its peculiar customs. What were the Christians when autos-da-fe were celebrated, and how long have they ceased? The custom of eating human flesh had ceased long before the death of Cook. The last historical traces of it may be found in the island of Woahoo.

Every great chief has his peculiar gods (Akua), the idols of which are represented in his morai. Others have different ones. The worship of these idols appears to be more for distinguished parade than religion.

The common people must do without these idols, and they make va→ rious creatures, birds, fowls, &c. for the object of their worship. Superstition prevails under many forms in the Sandwich Islands. As Kareimoku's guests, we were present at the celebration of a Tabu pori, which lasted from the setting of the sun to sunrise on the third day. It is already known what degree of sanctity is imparted to him who joins in this communion with the gods during the time. Should he accidentally touch a woman, she must be instantly put to death. Should he enter a woman's house, the flames must immediately consume it. We expected a certain seriousness during these sacrifices and prayers, and were astonished at the profane disposition which manifested itself; the indecorous sport that was made with the idols, and the tricks which they delighted to play us during the sacred ceremony. Children show more sedateness in playing with their dolls. pp. 247-249.

The Owhyheans are described as selfish, uncleanly, addicted to the grossest sensuality, and as having lost their natural hospitality. Old Tamaahmaah, though faithful to the cus

toms of his ancestors, and cautious of offending against the prejudices of his people, appears anxious to introduce civilization and moral improvement among his people. He distinguishes every European who settles in his islands, if his conduct be good;' and to those whom he receives into his service, he is very liberal in lands and in salary. His ships are manned half by Europeans and half by natives, and he is trying to procure admission for his flag into Canton. He is said to be immensely rich. But after the death of the old hero," says our Doctor, his kingdom, founded or kept together by force, will fall to pieces, the partition of it being already '... decided upon.'

It would be very important for navigation,' says Lieut. K., if the Sandwich Islands were on a level with Europe, in civilization; and the English, who have taken these islands under their protection, should take care that, after Tamaahmaah's death, a sensible man may succeed, and every revolution be avoided. Tamaahmaah deserves to have a monument erected to him.'

Lio-Lio, (i. e. dog of all dogs,) the heir apparent, or, as Chamisso has it, the Prince of Wales of the Island, is a weak, lazy, low-minded animal, who will certainly not be able to re tain the supremacy. It is expected that the Islands of Owhyhee, Atool, Mowee and Woahoo, will be divided among the several leading chieftains. In the mean time, as all the European settlers marry native women, a mixed race is daily springing up, who will probably acquire the ascendency; and Kotzebue gives it as his opinion, that the primitive race will eventually become extinct. Young, of whom Vancouver has given an

account, is one of the principal confidants of the king, to whom his wife is nearly allied. An Englishman, named Holmes, who has resided for nearly thirty years on the island of Woahoo, has also great influence; and the fort is commanded by another Englishman of the name of George Berkley.

Whatever political changes these islands may undergo, no part of the world seems to call more loudly for the introduction of the arts of civilized life, and, in connexion with them, for the great engines of moral improvement, education and the Bible. The importance of the station, the critical state of the islands, the ascendancy which the English have already obtained, the personal character of the monarch, and the slight hold which their superstition appears to have on the minds of the natives, all concur in strongly recommending the Sandwich Islands as the sphere of Missionary labour. A son of the King of Atooi, and some other Owyhean youths, are now under education in Connecticut. This is an important measure; but it will require to be followed up with a partial colonisation, both with teachers and artisans, in order to give permanence to any plans of melioration. Nothing else will save these Islands from falling a prey to intestine warfare, or to the tender mercies of unprincipled mercantile adventurers. England will have to protect Polynesia, as she has to protect Africa, from American buccaniers and European menstealers. The Russian American Company require in partilar to be watched; and in the navy of that gigantic and evergrowing empire, we shall probably, at no very distant period, have to encounter a dangerous rival. It will be a great thing not to deserve to be expelled from seas where the triumph of our navies might subserve the triumph of Christianity, where our language is already sufficiently understood, to be easily rendered the medium of evangelical instruction, and where what has already been achieved for Taheite, presents the strongest encouragement to persevere in the same line of beneficent moral conquest.

From the Island of Woahoo, Lieut. Kotzebue made for the tropical Islands of the Pacific; and on the 10th of January, 1817, he fell in with a low woody island, in lat. 10° 8', long. 189° 4′ W. to which, concluding it to be a new discovery, he gave the name of New Year's Island. The natives, who appeared in their boats, were tall and well shaped, and differed considerably in their physiognomy from the inhabitants of the other South Sea islands, having a high forehead, an aquiline nose, and sparkling brown eyes. They were tattooed, but not in the face. Their long black air, well rubbed with cocoa oil, was tied above the VOL. XVIII. N.S.

D

forehead, and adorned with shell ornaments; they wore also a collar of red shells, and in their immense ear-holes, which measured more than three inches in diameter,' they wore a roll of green leaves or of tortoise-shell. A few days after, the Rurick arrived at a chain of low wooded islands, inhabited by the same race, whom they found a kind-hearted people. On examination, the whole groupe proved to be of coral formation; and on some of them, the layer of mould was found not more than two inches deep, so recently have they risen above the deep. Lieut. K. thus describes his feelings on first landing at one of these modern islands.

The spot on which I stood filled me with astonishment, and I adored in silent admiration the omnipotence of God, who had given even to these minute animals the power to construct such a work. My thoughts were confounded when I considered the immense series of years that must elapse, before such an island can rise from the fathomless abyss of the ocean, and become visible on the surface. At a future period they will assume another shape; all the islands will join and form a circular slip of earth, with a pond or lake in the circle; and this form will again change, as these animals continue building till they reach the surface, and then the water will one day vanish, and only one great island be visible. It is a strange feeling to walk about on a living island, where all below is actively at work. And to what corner of the earth can we penetrate, where human beings are not already to be found? In the remotest regions of the north, amidst mountains of ice, under the burning sun of the equator, nay, even in the middle of the ocean, on islands which have been formed by animals, they are met with !'

Yet, in spite of the thinness of the superficial layer of earth, trees were already growing, in several of the islands, between the large blocks of coral, which resembled, says the Russian Navigator, in height and thickness, our largest oaks.' The whole chain, which bears the name of Radack, consists of ten circular groupes of islands, extending over nearly six degrees of latitude. To the west of this chain, at the distance of about a degree, there exists, according to the testimony of the natives, a second chain, consisting of nine large groupes and three single islands, which they call Ralick. The groupe which Lieut. Kotzebue first discovered, and which forms part of the Radack chain, consists of sixty-five islands, and is about thirty miles in length from West to East, and about ten miles in breadth. It received the name of Count Romanzoff. Otdia, the most eastern and largest island of the Romanzoff groupe, lies in lat. 9°. N. long. 189°. W. Whether Lieut. Kotzebue can claim to be the first discoverer of the Radack chain, or not, depends on the determination of their identity with the Chatham and Calvert's Islands of the charts; but