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THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

THE SANDWICH ISLANDS are ten in number. They lie within the tropic of Cancer, about one third of the distance from the western coast of Mexico to the eastern shores of China.

The length of Hawaii is 97 miles, its breadth 78, and its circumference 280, and it covers an area of about 4,000 square miles. It is the most southern island, and ascends to the great height of at least 15,000 feet. Its broad base and regular form render its outline different from that of most other islands in the Pacific. The mountains of Hawaii, unlike the peak of Teneriffe in the Atlantic, do not pierce the clouds like obelisks or spires, but in most parts, and from the southern shore in particular, the ascent is gradual, and comparatively unbroken, from the sea-beach to the lofty summit of Mauna Loa. The greatest part of the arable land is found near the sea-shore, along which the towns and villages of the natives are thickly scattered. The popu lation is estimated at from 85,000 to 100,000.-Maui is 48 miles long, 29 broad, and 140 in circumference, and covers about 600 square miles. The island is composed of two peninsulas, united by a low isthmus nine miles across. The southern peninsula is the larger of the two, and is lofty; but though its summits are often seen above the clouds, they are never covered with snow, as are the mountains of Hawaii. In the northern peninsula, there are several extensive tracts of level and well-watered land, in a high state of cultivation. The population, according to a late census, is 34,000. Maui is separated from Hawaii by a strait about 24 miles across.-Kahoolawe, only a few miles dis tant from the southern peninsula of Maui, is eleven miles long, and eight broad. It is low, and almost destitute of every kind of shrub or verdure, except a species of coarse grass. There are but few residents on this island.-Molokini lies between these islands, and is a barren rock visited only by fishermen, who find its naked surface convenient for spreading their nets to dry.-Lanai is 3 compact island, 17 miles in length, and nine in breadth. The width of the strait, which separates it from Maui, is nine or ten miles. A great part of the island is barren. Population about 2,000. Molokai is a long, irregular island, apparently formed by a chain of volcanic mountains, 40 miles long, and not more than seven broad. Population about 8,000.-Oahu lies nearly northwest of Molokai, between 30 and 40 miles distant, and is the most romantic and fertile of the Sandwich Islands. Its length is 46 miles, and its breadth 23. Its appearance from the roads off Honolulu, or Waititi, is remarkably picturesque. A chain of lofty mountains rises near the centre of the eastern part of the island, and, extending perhaps twenty miles, reaches the plain of Eva, which divides it from the distant and elevated mountains that rise in a line parallel with the northwest shore. The plain of Eva is nearly twenty miles in length, from the Pearl River to Wailua, and in some parts nine or ten miles across. The soil is fertile, and watered by a number of rivulets, which wind their way along the deep water courses that intersect its surface, and empty themselves into the sea. Population estimated at 20,000.--Kauai, distant northwest of Oahu about 75 miles, is 46 miles long, and 23 broad, and covers an area of 520 square miles. The principal settlements are in the neighborhood of Waimea river, the roads at the entrance of which are the usual resort of vessels touching at Kauai. Population about 10,000.-Nihau, about 15 miles from Kauai, in a westerly direction, is 20 miles in length, and seven miles wide. The inhabitants are not numerous.-Kaula is a barren, uninhabited rock.

The southeastern islands are called Windward, and the northwestern Leeward, islands--the latter being most distant from the point whence the wind blows, which is perpetually sweeping over the islands.

The whole group is evidently of volcanic formation. Extinguished volcanoes are found in several of the islands, and Hawaii contains one of the most remarkable volcanoes in the world. The population of the group may be reckoned at 185,000.

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions established a mission in these islands in the spring of 1820. The following table presents at one view the number of missionaries and assistant missionaries, which has been sent out at different times.

Time of Embarkation. Arrival. Preachers. Teachers. Physicians. Printers. Farmers. Females. Total: Oct. 23, 1819,

Nov. 19, 1822,

April, 1820, April, 1823,

2

1

7

14

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Nov. 3, 1828,

March, 1829,

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Dec. 28, 1830,

June, 1831,

3

4

8

Nov. 26, 1831,

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Two of the teachers have been ordained as ministers of the gospel, making the number of ordained missionaries at the islands, 22; but it is expected that two or three of these will go to the Washington Islands. As it is, eight of the 22 are yet ignorant of the language, and if the islands were divided into equal parishes, each missionary would have the charge of eight or ten thousand souls.

A considerable part of the native population is made to feel the influence of the schools. The number of schools and scholars in the several islands is estimated as follows:

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Total, The mission churches contain about 500 native members. The language has been reduced to writing; the alphabet containing but seven consonants and five vowels, or twelve letters in the whole. Works have been prepared and printed in the Hawaiian language to the amount of 1,280 pages, reckoning them in a continuous series multiplied by the press to 21,031,380 pages. Among these works are embraced nearly the whole New Testament, and portions of the Old Testament.

Five or six years ago, the Christian form of marriage was unknown on the islands. Nor was there any other form that could not be sundered at any moment by the will of the parties. The breaking of the mar riage contract, such as it was, was a thing of the most common occurrence, leading to great misery and great moral pollution. Now, probably few persons who would be called respectable on the islands, residing within a day's journey of any of the stations, can be found living together as heads

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In the autumn of 1831, the king committed the government of Oahu publicly into the hands of Kaahumanu; and Adams, (Kuakini,) formerly governor of Hawaii, was appointed governor. He immediately gave out orders for the suppression of grogshops, gaming-houses, &c., and followed up his orders by keeping an armed guard in the streets. Riding on the Sabbath for amusement was also strictly forbidden, and several horses of foreigners were seized in the act of violating the law. They were afterwards given up. All these things put together, produced no little excitement.

The salutary laws of the chiefs, designed particularly to restrain the foreigners, met at first with strong opposition; and were afterwards evaded, or not carried fully into effect. Riding on the Sabbath for amusement is, however, entirely prevented, and other vices have received a great check.

About the same time the chiefs, being assembled from the different islands at Honolulu, and others favorably disposed, formed themselves into a temperance society, on the general principle of entire abstinence from the use of ardent spirits for pleasure or civility, and from engaging in distilling or vending the same for gain.

The authority of the islands is exercised by pious chieftains; indeed most of the principal chiefs are now members of the visible church of Christ. The government of the islands has adopted the moral law of God, with a knowledge of its purport, as the basis of their own future administra

tion, and the Christian religion is professedly the religion of the nation. Special laws have been enacted and are enforced, against murder, theft, licentiousness, retailing ardent spirits, Sabbath-breaking, and gambling. The Christian law of marriage is the law of the land.

Commodious houses for public worship have been erected by the principal chiefs, in the places of their residence; and when there is preaching, these chiefs regularly and seriously attend. In the island of Maui, there is said to be a house for public worship in every considerable village. Those erected at the several missionary stations, are large. That at Lahaina is of stone, two stories high, it is 98 feet long and 62 broad, and, having galleries, it will seat 3,000 people after the native manner. It is the most substantial and noble structure in Polynesia. Most or all of the others are thatched buildings. The church at Honolulu, erected by the present king is 196 feet long, and 63 feet broad, and admits 4,500 persons. Another at Waiahea, in Hawaii, is 147 feet long and 68 broad; and a fourth at Kailua, in the same island, is 180 feet long and 78 broad. The congregations on the Sabbath, at the places in which the missionaries reside, vary from one to four thousand hearers; and are universally characterized by order, stillness, and strict attention to preaching. The congregation at Honolulu, in Oahu, for nine months, averaged from 3,000 to 4,000 on Sabbath morning, and from 2,000 to 3,000 in the afternoon; and from 500 to 1,000 on Wednesday evening.

In the district of Honolulu, a thousand natives have associated on the principle of entire abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors. And in that same district and two others, with a united population of perhaps 40,000, a fourth part of the inhabitants have formed themselves into societies for the better understanding and keeping of God's holy law. These societies require unimpeachable morals, as a condition of membership.

All these facts are traceable wholly to the blessing of God on the establishment of a Christian mission in those islands.

The nation, however, is only beginning to understand the advantages of the social state. The elements of individual improvement, domestic happiness, national order and prosperity have been introduced and are in progressive operation; and the contrast between the former and present character of the nation is great, in almost every respect. Yet few have done more than merely to cross the threshold of knowledge. Probably three fourths of those who are capable of learning to read, have yet to acquire the art.

Salvation through the Lamb, that was slain, is brought within the reach of thousands, and many have fled and are fleeing, to lay hold on the hope set before them; but how few are their advantages, compared with those which we have, and which they ought to possess! The missionaries now on the islands are able to preach the gospel statedly, to no more than about one fourth part of the population. There is yet much to be done-Christianity exists there only in its infancy-its progress is obstructed by ignorance and sin, in a thousand forms. This feeble infancy must be nurtured by the continued prayers and benefactions of the friends of missions, for years to come. But how great the encouragement! Never, since the days of the apostles, has the progress of the gospel been more visible and more salutary, in any part of the world, than at these islands. There is no wild fancy in the expectation, that, in a few years, these islanders will imitate their brethren of Taheite, in sending Christian missionaries to other islands in their neighborhood, which are now the habitations of darkness and cruelty. And in this way, they will co-operate with us and Christians of other nations, in preaching the gospel to every creature.

The following hymn was sung at the embarkation of the first reinforcement to the Sandwich Islands mission, at New Haven, Nov. 19, 1822; and having been translated into the native language, has often been sung by the islanders since that time.

Wake, Isles of the South! your redemption is near,
No longer repose in the borders of gloom;
The strength of His chosen, in love will appear,
And light shall arise on the verge of the tomb.

The billows that girt ye, the wild waves that roar,
The zephyrs that play, where the ocean-storms
Shall bear the rich freight to your desolate shore,
Shall waft the glad tidings of pardon and peace.

cease,

On the islands that sit in the regions of night,
The lands of despair, to oblivion a prey;
The morning will open with healing and light,

The young star of Bethlehem will ripen to-day.

The altar and idol in dust overthrown,
The incense forbade that was hallowed with blood,
The Priest of Melchesedec there shall atone,
And the shrines of Atooi be sacred to God!

The heathen will hasten to welcome the time,
The day-spring, the prophet, in vision once saw-
When the beams of Messiah will 'lumine each
clime,
And the isles of the ocean shall wait for his law.

And thou OBOOKIAH! now sainted above,
Wilt rejoice as the heralds their mission disclose;
And the prayer will be heard, that the land thos
didst love,

May blossom as Sharon, and bud as the rose!

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which we called, a priest came, and, probably in the simplicity of his soul, asked us why we did not worship. We told him that we worshipped the God of heavennot such blind, dumb images as knew nothing, neither could do any thing. It gave

Interview with Priests-Prodigality of the occasion for much conversation and he lis

King.

Jan. 2, 1832. The priest who was introduced to us by letter from Mr. Gutzlaff, and who has frequently called upon us since, came again this morning, in company with another of high rank, who had also visited us before. They had heard before entering the house, that we both were going, and appeared more than usually affectionate and thoughtful. We spent all the evening in endeavoring to persuade them to turn from their idols to the true

God. They listened with attention-asked many questions, one of which was (we hope the suggestion of at least a partial awakening) whether the God of heaven had denounced the worship of images. The superior has a mind of ready and comprehensive powers. He has copied nearly two of the gospels and appears generally to understand what he reads. He spoke of the fig-tree which Jesus cursed, and we endeavored to enforce its application upon himself. We have reason to believe that he is convinced of the folly of idolatry, and impressed in some degree with the reasonableness, if not necessity, of the Christian religion. But his rank is high and the consequences of changing his faith will probably produce a struggle before he is made to submit. Much must be sacrificed-much encounteredperhaps much endured. His own plea for not being a Christian is ignorance. He says he knows but little yet. It is worthy of much intercession, that he and his companion, in some respects as hopeful as himself, may be made the first fruits of Siam unto God.

3. Spent the principal part of the day in the boat and at some of the pagodas, conversing with the priests and others. While looking at the idols in the first temple at

VOL. XXVIII.

tened with the attention of a child in hearing a marvellous thing.

in one of the temples, at their noon-day and At the next pagoda we found three priests last meal, all far advanced in life. They put the usual question and received our usual reply. Here the conversation was much protracted. A number of worshippers and others who came in, listened with attention, while we pointed out some of those plain truths which Christianity suggests and idolatry cannot endure. The old priests, who at first would have little to say to us, perhaps offended at our irreverence for their gods, when they heard us converse in their own tongue, became very civil and attentive.

In passing to the boat, we encountered another company of priests, and among them a man who manifested some knowledge of Christianity and a conviction of its truths. He asked, in the presence of the priests, whether it was right to worship idols according to the custom of the Siamese. His object appeared merely to get our reply, which he no doubt anticipated, that he might make it a subject of remark to his more ignorant auditors,

5. As we passed up the river this morn ing, the gilded temples and spires of idolatry gleamed in the first rays of the rising sun and appeared too beautiful not to belong to Him, whose is the silver and the gold. Priests in crowds were passing about from house to house, while women, with large vessels of boiled rice and other provisions, were sitting before the doors of the floating houses, or in their boats, measuring to each his portion. This finished, they put both hands to their foreheads, intended to be an act of worship, while the priest appears not to notice their reverence. 35*

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