NAVIGATORS ISLANDS. In the Missionary Magazine for March, 1836, we briefly referred to the discovery, geographical position, and natural beauty of the Navigators Islands, in connexion with a cursory review of the first attempts which had been made, by means of native teachers and occasional visits of the brethren in the Society Islands, to introduce among the inhabitants the knowledge of the true God and only Saviour. The arrival at these islands of the Missionary brethren and sisters, sent forth by the Society at the close of 1835, to establish a Mission there, under the favour and guidance of the Most High, and the tidings of the actual commencement of their labours, were communicated to the friends of the Society in August last. The Mission of these brethren was commenced in June, 1836, attended by manifest tokens of Divine support and direction, and with every prospect of rapid and extensive success. Of the six brethren to whom this important service has been confided, Messrs. Heath, Mills, Hardy, Macdonald, Murray, and Barnden, the two latter have commenced their labours in the island to which they were appointed, viz., the Island of Tutuila; Messrs. Heath and Mills are pursuing their labours in the Island of Upolu; and Savaii, the largest of the group, is occupied by Mr. Hardy, in conjunction with Mr. Macdonald, who arrived there with Mrs. Macdonald early in the past year. By these important movements of the Society towards a further extension of its Missions in the South Seas, the Gospel, with all its heavenly influences, hopes, and objects, has been planted in the midst of a population of not less, it is computed, than fifty thousand souls; and looking in faith to Him who alone can give vitality to the holy seed, and cause it to ripen into fruit, we cherish the happy assurance of its being made the power of God unto salvation to thousands of our fellow-men in these islands. But if, contrasted with the improved state to which they may in a few years be elevated, the present condition of the people be greatly defective in moral excellence, how favourable is the latter compared with what it is known to have been from 1787, when La Perouse visited the Islands,* until the Missionaries of the Cross first landed upon their shores! When the celebrated navigator just named, in company with M. de Langle, came in view of the islands, he was so struck with the charming character of the scenery, as to conclude, with his accomplished associate, that the inhabitants of such regions could not but be innocent, peaceful, and happy. But afterwards, when speaking of one of the islands, he declares, "We were deceived; this delightful abode was not the abode of innocence. We perceived, indeed, no arms, but the bodies of the Indians [Samoans] covered over with scars, proved that they were often at war, or else quarrelling among themselves, while their features announced a ferocity that was not perceptible in the countenances of the women. Nature had, no doubt, stamped this on their faces, by way of showing that the half-savage, living in a state of anarchy, is a more dangerous being than the most ferocious of the brute creation." Without entirely adopting these views, it is but too true that most melancholy proofs soon appeared of their general accuracy, and the murder of M. de Langle, with another officer of the expedition, and ten of the crew, by the natives in the Island of Tutuila, first verified to La Perouse the correctness of his own impressions, as above described. The carnage of these enterprising men, which appears to have been instigated by a desire for plunder, occurred in the Bay, which, in commemoration of these barbarous acts, has since been called Massacre Cove. The preceding page exhibits a view of this sanguinary * Missionary Magazine for March, 1836. occurrence; it is copied from the engraving published in the account of the voyage of the ill-fated La Perouse. The atrocious conduct of the natives, at this period, conveyed to mariners navigating the Pacific such an impression of their treachery and ferocity as to deter subsequent voyagers from venturing among them, and for a number of years the islands appear to have remained unvisited by vessels from any part of the civilised world. But the messengers of the Gospel at length came, pursued their work, and on the shore of that very Bay, where M. de Langle fell wounded in the water, was seized and massacred with clubs and stones by more than two hundred of the natives, a Missionary Station is now established; the shout of the exulting murderer has been changed into the voice of prayer and praise; peace, and gentleness, and good-will prevail, where only discord, rudeness, and hatred could once be found; and the shores so long dreaded and shunned by the mariner or the merchant, as promising nothing but perfidy and bloodshed, may now be visited in safety and confidence, under the benign influences of the Gospel of Peace. The substance of the recent communications from the Navigators Islands will be communicated in an early number of the Missionary Magazine. MISSION AT RAROTONGA. (Continued from page 296.) Love to the volume of inspired truth, and extreme desire to possess it in even the smallest portions, forms another pleasing characteristic of the natives of this island. This is placed in a very interesting light by the further details from Mr. Pitman's letter inserted below. In these the important facts will also be noticed, that while the flourishing and extensive schools at Rarotonga are becoming nurseries to the church there formed, the church itself is nurturing and sending forth men of God to preach the Gospel among their own countrymen. The Missionary prayer meetings held by the native Christians, seem to have contributed not a little to the present delightful state of things at this Station; and it is hoped, that, under Divine favour, the whole of the Bible, translated into the Rarotongan dialect, will at no distant period be placed in their hands, to elevate yet more their sense of obligation, and of the value of the privileges which they enjoy. In continuing his communication of the 30th June, Mr. Pitman, whose feeble health and manifold labours still call for affectionate sympathy and prayer, ob serves: What shall I say, dear Sir, as it respects the treasure forwarded by the brig engaged by the Directors, I mean the Gospels, in this dialect, tracts, and slates? I cannot express my joy better than by giving you an extract from my journal:-" My soul was filled with joy in receiving fifteen hundred Gospels printed in England, with five tracts, fifteen hundred each. How delighted are my poor people! O what would the friends of the Bible Society say, could they behold the grateful pleasure pictured in the countenances of the people on receiving this best of treasures, and the grief depicted in the faces of those who cannot obtain one. These precious portions of God's word are more valuable to me than had the boxes in which they came been filled with gold. I trust they will do good to many immortal souls. The Lord be magnified for his continued For In all directions I am followed by men, women, and children, calling out, "Teacher, are all the books gone? Give me one, do not say no." If I say, "Can you read?" They reply, "A little, but my children can." I am urging all of them to more diligence in learning to read, as more books, I tell them, will soon be received. It will be gratifying to the Directors to hear that several of my scholars have expressed a wish to join the church. Two, I expect, will be shortly admitted. This circumstance, of my being favoured to see the first fruits of my labours amongst the children, affords me greater pleasure than I can well express. Glory to God alone! Both of these young men engaged in prayer at our last Missionary prayer meeting. While interceding for the heathen nations, I could not but lift up my soul to God in thankful adoration and pray, Thrust these into thy vineyard, that they may labour for thee. With great joy we welcomed to these shores our dear brethren bound to the Navigators. They spent a week with us, and expressed their delight at the good work in progress here. May they all prove burning and shining lights in the dark regions where they have gone! Agreeably to the request of the Directors, my respected and worthy colleague, the Rev. A. Buzacott, and his partner, have accompanied them to their destination, with the intention of remaining about six months. In consequence of my extreme weakness, I could not see it to be the path of duty for him to leave unless one of the brethren were permitted to remain till his return. It was proposed that Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald should be requested to remain with us for a time. To this he readily agreed. He is now diligently applying himself to the language, and being of the medical profession, is able to render us valuable assistance in attending to the diseases of the people. The whole island now devolves upon myself for instruction. I am still very weak, and unable to do much. I preach once every Sabbath; also the weekly evening lecture; and occasionally address the congregation at Titikaveka, being assisted by Maretu, who reads the Scriptures and engages in prayer, and who also continues to preach every Sabbath evening with much acceptance. Since Mr. Buzacott's departure we have spent a fortnight at Avarua, where from morning till night our time has been fully occupied. I do hope the cause of the Redeemer is prospering there. "What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits?" All the chapels and schools are exceedingly well attended, and the people apparently hungering for the bread of life. Both Iro and Maretu are valuable assistants; their labours have been largely blessed. Another young man, named Tupai, has also preached occasionally with acceptance. I am about to send out another to supply next Lord's-day at the out-station, as Iro is to preach at Avarua. To these young men I devote nearly the whole of Wednesdays, instructing them in theology, reading and explaining the Sacred Scriptures, and assisting them in their preparations for the Sabbath. The Lord has wonderfully strengthened me for my extra labours since the departure of Brother Buzacott for the Navigators, and I trust as my day is so my strength will be. During my visit to Tahiti, I, with the assistance of a lad belonging to my school, transcribed the five books of Moses, &c., from the manuscript of Brother Nott. Since my return I have translated into the Rarotongan dialect so far as the middle of Leviticus, and also several Psalms. It is our opinion that the whole of the sacred volume should as speedily as possible be put into the hands of the people in their own idiom. I hope to devote myself to this work to the utmost of my strength and ability; but till the return of Brother Buzacott I despair of doing much. He has commenced the prophecies of Isaiah. I purpose to proceed as far as the end of the second book of Samuel, and the Psalms, and then carefully to revise the whole for the press. Several of the Minor Prophets I have also translated, (not revised ;) these, however, I shall leave for the present, as I wish to avail myself of Brother Nott's corrections, whose Translation of the Scriptures I expect will be in the press by the time this reaches you. The useful articles sent from England for Iro and Taugna have been delivered to them, with the exception of one of the hand-saws which I gave to Maretu. They received the articles with great thankfulness and pleasure. I need not say that a trifling present of this kind would be very acceptable to those who assist me in my labours. Having thus given you, dear Sir, a sketch of our recent proceedings, I now conclude, by entreating an interest in the prayers of the Directors, and friends of Missions, that our efforts to promote the glory of God in this far distant island may be crowned with great success and abundant blessing. I remain, dear Sir, Yours very truly, CHARLES PITMAN. LATTAKOO MISSION, IN SOUTH AFRICA. THE day of grace and salvation has fully dawned upon this distant field of Missionary exertion. The people who sat in darkness, withering under the bondage of sin and Satan, and loaded with debasing superstitions, have hailed the glad message of reconciliation. Many, who not long since lay sunk in spiritual death, are now walking in newness of life, and rejoicing in the possession of the unsearchable riches of Christ. Abundant pledges have been received of the coming harvest; the Bechuana nation has yielded its first-fruits to God; the native church, now rapidly augmenting, stands fast in the knowledge and love of the truth, and the kingdom of our Lord is spreading in every direction around the Mission Settlement. From regions still farther north, lying towards the almost unpenetrated heart of Africa, natives constantly visit the Station, and return again, bearing with them tidings of the Saviour and his finished work. In this way the wilderness may be made glad, where no European Missionary ever trod, and the wanderer of the desert may become the half unconscious messenger of life and peace to his fellows. The subjoined extract of a letter forwarded by the brethren Moffat, Hamilton, and Edwards, under date of June 15th, will more fully unfold these subjects, and bring to view many other points of interest and importance in connexion with their labours, They observe, It is with gratitude to the God of all our mercies that we proceed to give you some account of the Lord's dealings with us, and with the people among whom we labour. When we look at the year gone by, we feel bound to say that goodness and mercy have followed us. Health has been granted, and the full enjoyment of those means through which the savour of the name of Jesus is extended here as in other parts of the world. In this respect, when we contrast past years with the present, we cannot help exclaiming, "What hath God wrought!" We have now no busy Rainmaker to lead the multitude captive at his will, and make us the mourning spectators of gross ignorance and superstition. We are no longer left to pray alone, or complain that we have spent our strength for nought, while a wicked multitude laugh us to scorn, and bid defiance to our apparently useless endeavours to impress their hearts. The time is gone by when our property was wont to be the common prey of covetous and lawless men, and when no appeal could be heard nor redress given. When those seasons are remembered, we thank God that, though sorrow continue for a night, joy cometh in the morning. The day has dawned and the day star has arisen on this people, for the fetters of superstition are comparatively broken, and those who were wont to say, "Let us break their bands," are now emerging from the delusion, and awaking to a new state of moral being. From our last year's report you would see that our joys were mingled with sorrow, and that we had to deplore the condition of a few who had turned back and would walk no more with us. However painful these things were, we knew that we must expect them among converts from heathenism. We mourned, and we still mourn over the fallen, but the Lord our Saviour has shown us that his grace is sufficient to preserve those who truly believe in his name, and he has continued to add to their number. From Mr. Moffat's communications* of November, last year, you would be glad to see that our prospects were brightening, not only here, but at other places among the Bechuanas. During the past year nine men, nine women and fifteen children have been baptised. The eighteen adults, who have thereby been received into the church here, gave what we considered very satisfactory evidence of a real change of heart; and after mature deliberation and supplication for the aid of the Holy Spirit, we received them with joy. Of these one was the wife and another the daughter of a chief of one of the villages of our out-station at Hamhana. They had long been candidates, but had for some time given full evidence of the sincerity of their profession. Some of the others who were received were from the Kolong, or Hart River, four days' journey southward of this place. The principal one, Morisanyane, is a man of some talent, and, if he perseveres under the tuition he has received, will, we hope, become eventually useful to others. His wife, who seems an excellent woman, and who has also been baptised, is the daughter of Salakotoo, who was a chief of some importance when the Rev. J. Campbell visited this country. with others, is desirous of removing to this station, and we expect them ere long. Some of those who have been received have been candidates for years, and among these we may mention a Moharutse, the son of Sebogori, the predecessor of Lequileng in the regal power of the Baharutse nation. Like many others of the scattered nations of the interior, he has made this station an asylum. He, We rejoice in these tokens of the favour of our heavenly Father, and are cheered by the hopes of still greater results redounding • July Magazine, 1837. to the glory of our Redeemer. However degraded the nations may be who surround us, and, alas! degraded they are, we know that even of these stones God can raise up children to Abraham. Already we have received abundant pledges to excite us to the warmest zeal, and we do hope that what we have witnessed is but the prelude to the universal conquest when the kingdoms of this land of darkness shall become the kingdoms of our Lord. We have every reason to believe that those who are united to us in the fellowship of the Gospel are walking worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called, and progressing in the knowledge of the doctrines and duties of Christianity. We have been much gratified during the past year by the formation of an Auxiliary Missionary Society, owing to the praiseworthy zeal of the people of this station to have the saving knowledge of the Gospel extended to the nations still in darkness. The amount of subscriptions is highly encouraging. We have in the course of receiving them been sometimes astonished to see the cheerful way in which they gave what, in some instances, was more than a tenth of their whole property, for the Palalo ea Bogosi yoa Keresete, (the extension or spread of the kingdom of Christ.) Some of the subscriptions were in cash, and others in produce. One characteristic of the native mind formerly was want of compassion to his fellow, his brother, and his friend. Of this we have seen innumerable instances. Let us then rejoice in the triumphs of Divine grace, which has thus softened their obdurate hearts, and led them to imitate the good Samaritan. They have acted after the same manner, and though their gifts mark the "day of small things," they have exceeded our expectations. Were you as intimately acquainted with the real state of this people as we are, you would unite with us in grateful adoration to Him who has thus far softened the adamantine hearts of those who, but ten years ago, were the devotees of their own passions, without natural affection, moral worth, or hope in the world. A Our itinerating visits continue every week to the towns of our out-station, Hamhana. We have been delighted during the past year to see numerous congregations, and the riveted attention of the hearers to the things which were spoken. There is evidently a saving change among that people. Some of those who have been baptised are from among them, and we have no doubt but their conduct and example in publicly professing their faith in the Gospel has been influential on the conduct of others. radical change has taken place, especially among the youths who, a short time ago, publicly declared that it was their determination not to follow the fables and superstitions of their forefathers. Some of the old chiers nave vainly endeavoured to sustain the fast vanishing customs of former generations. We cannot feel angry with them, when we reflect on the gross ignorance in which they have lived. We have the assurance that these things, which yet oppose the purifying influences of the Gospel, will, in due time, vanish before the potent energies of faith and prayer. We rehearse the sure word of prophecy, and look by faith to the time when the natives will cast their superstitions to the moles and and the bats. APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE HOTTENTOTS. MANY circumstances combine at the present period to encourage the cheering belief that He, whose ear never closes to the cry of human suffering, is coming forth to manifest his effectual compassion on behalf of the long oppressed Hottentots; the now almost portionless inhabitants of a fertile country once their own. Friends, both at home and abroad, are actively espousing their cause, pointing to the manifold wrongs which they have suffered, vindicating and recommending their equitable claims on the righteous and benevolent feeling of the British nation. Among the efforts now made to rescue this injured race of men from their deplorable condition, those of the Lieut. Governor, on the Eastern Frontier of the Colony, appear peculiarly prominent, and eminently tend to inspire encouragement and hope. The means which are requisite to promote this truly valuable work, contemplating as it does the moral and religious advancement of the Hottentots, as well as their social elevation, are specially marked out in the two following communications; the first from the Rev. J. Monro, of Graham's Town, describing chiefly the auspicious opening for Missionary exertion, which has been created by the liberal measures of the Lieut. Governor; the second, from the Rev. Dr. Philip, the Rev. James Read, and the Chief Tzatzoe, unitedly |