absolutely unfashionable to patronise and commend!

But to be serious, in a serious cause," without supposing that all these improbable revolutions in public opinion would be either desirable or advantageous, we may assert, that the actual success of missions, and the evident amelioration which has resulted from that success, have compelled many political and literary men to think and speak far more respectfully of such operations, than was formerly the case. The genuine Christian, indeed, does not depend upon the degree and extent of success in any cause, as the ground of obligation, or the excitement to activity. He looks at the divine command; the principle of DUTY is the all-powerful stimulant;and where this is felt, it will secure a steady and an undeviating progression. But when beneficial results are secured, and actual success can be reported, it animates the faithful, it convinces the wavering, and it puts to silence the ignorance of foolish men."

worker" in the sacred cause. The observations which he made during this period of labour, on the character and manners of the inhabitants of Hawaii, the principal isle in the Sandwich groupe, are contained in the very interesting work, which is now presented to the public. We are happy to find, that it has already excited a deep and lively interest, not only amongst the friends of missions more immediately connected with the esteemed and excellent author, but in various literary circles; and the honourable testimony which several popular and widely circulated organs of criticism have borne to the "narrative" of Mr. Ellis, induces the hope, that in many instances prejudice will be disarmed, and the cause of truth and benevolence will be substantially promoted. We have already directed the attention of our readers to this volume, and shall now redeem our pledge by a more extended notice of its various and instructive contents.

The following extract presents an interesting portraiture of Missionary services in one of the districts of Hawaii, and a sketch of the character of one of the chiefs.

"The Sabbath morning dawned upon the missionaries at Kairua, under circumstances unusually animating, and

they prepared to spend this holy day in extending, as widely as possible, their labours among the benighted people around them. Mr. Thurston preached in the native language twice at the governor's Mr. Bihouse, to attentive audiences shop and Thomas Hopu proceeded early in the morning to Kaavaroa, a village about fourteen miles distant, on the north side of Kearake'kua, (Karakakooa,) where they arrived at 11 A. M. Kamakau, chief of the place, received them with many expressions of gladness, led them to his house, and provided some refreshments; after which, they walked together to a ranai, (house of cocoa-nut leaves,) which he had some time ago erected for the public worship of Jehovah. Here they found about a hundred of his people assembled, and waiting their arrival. Mr. Bishop, with the aid of Thomas, preached

to them from John iii. 16. and endeavoured in the most familiar manner to set before

them the great love of God in sending his Son to die for sinners, and the necessity of forsaking sin, and believing on him, in order to eternal life. Towards the latter part of the discourse, the preacher was interrupted by Kamakau, who, anxious that his people might receive the greatest possible benefit by the word spoken, began earnestly to exhort them to listen and regard, telling them, their salvation depended on their attention to the truths which they heard. After the service was concluded, he again addressed them, affectionately recommending them to consider these things.

"Kamakau wished them to meet with the people again, but as the day was far spent, they thought it best to return. He then told them, that after their departure he should assemble his people, and repeat to them what they had heard. He asked many questions on religious subjects, several respecting the heavenly state; and appeared interested in the answers that were given; especially when informed that heaven was a holy place, into which nothing

sinful could enter.

"As they went from his house to the beach, they passed by a large idol, that Kamakau had formerly worshipped, lying

prostrate and mutilated on the rocks, and washed by the waves of the sea as they rolled on the shore. It was a huge log of wood, rudely carved, presenting a hideous form, well adapted to infuse terror into an ignorant and superstitious mind. On his being asked why he worshipped that log of wood, he answered,-because he was afraid he would destroy his cocoa-nuts. But were you not afraid to destroy it? No, I found he did me neither good nor harm. I thought he was no god, and threw him away.' Bidding him farewell, they stepped into their canoe, and returned to Kairua, where they arrived in the evening, encouraged by the incidents of the day.

"Kamakau is a chief of considerable rank and influence in Hawaii, though not immediately connected with any of the reigning family. He is cousin to Naibe, the friend and companion of Tamehameha, and the principal national orator of the Sandwich Islands. His person, like that of the chiefs in general, is noble and engaging. He is about six feet high, stout, well-proportioned, and more intelligent and enterprising than the people around him. For some time past he has established family worship in his house, and the observance of the Sabbath throughout his district; having erected a place for the public worship of the true God, in which, every Lord's day, he assembles his people for the purpose of exhortation and prayer, which he conducts himself. He is able to read, writes an easy and legible hand, has a general knowledge of the first principles

of Christianity, and, what is infinitely better, appears to feel their power on his heart, and evince their purity in his general conduct. His attainments are truly surprising, manifesting a degree of industry and perseverance rarely displayed under similar circumstances. His sources of information have been very limited. An occasional residence of a few weeks at Honoruru, one or two visits of the missionaries and of some of the native teachers to his house, and letters from Naihe, are the chief advantages he has enjoyed. He appears, indeed, a modern Cornelius, and is a striking manifestation of the sovereignty of that grace of which we trust he has been made a partaker; and we rejoice in the pleasing hope that He who has 'begun a good work, will perform it until the day of Christ.'"--pp. 32-34.

From various passages in the work before us, it appears that the superstitions and" abominable idolatries" of the Sandwich islanders, formed no exception to the general character and tendencies of polytheism. Idolatry, whether adorned by the fictions of an attractive and elegant mythology, or encumbered by the trappings of a gross and gorgeous superstition; whether classical or barbarous, savage or refined, is still, in all its leading features, the same horrific and disgusting system. It is "earthly, sensual, devilish." It sanctions impurity; it consecrates the orgies of lust and intemperance; it extinguishes, in numerous instances, the natural affections; it makes woman the victim and the vassal of man, and inspires the principles of a ferocious despotism in all the social relations of wife. In Hawaii, human sacrifices were not unfrequent before the introduction of Christianity; and infanticide was practised to a considerable extent. On one occasion Mr. Ellis visited one of the "heiaus," or temples of the island, and thus describes it.

"After breakfast, I visited the large heiau or temple called Bukohola. It stands on an eminence in the southern part of the district, and was built by Tamehameha about thirty years ago, when he was engaged in conquering Hawaii, and the rest of the Sandwich Islands. He had

subdued Maui, Ranai, and Morokai, and was preparing, from the latter, to invade Oabu, but in consequence of a rebellion in the south and east parts of Hawaii, was obliged to return thither. When he had overcome those who had rebelled, he finished the heiau, dedicated it to Tairi his god of war, and then proceeded to the conquest of Oahu. Its shape is an irregular parallelogram, 224 feet long, and 100 wide. The walls, though built of loose stones, were solid and compact. At both ends, and on the side next the mountains, they were twenty feet high, twelve feet thick at the bottom, but narrowed in gradually towards the top, where a course of smooth stones, six feet wide, formed a pleasant walk. The walls next the sea were not more than seven or eight feet high, and were proportionally wide. The entrance to the temple is by a narrow passage between two high walls. As 1 passed along this avenue, an involuntary shuddering seized me, on reflecting how often it had been trodden by the feet of those who relentlessly bore the murdered body of the human victim an offering to their cruel idols. The upper terrace within the area was spacious, and much better finished than the lower ones. It was paved with various flat smooth stones, brought from a considerable distance. the south end was a kind of inner court, which might be called the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, where the principal idol used to stand, surrounded by a number of images of inferior deities.

At

"In the centre of this inner court was the place where the anu was erected, which was a lofty frame of wicker-work, in shape something like an obelisk, hollow, and four or five feet square at the bottom. Within this the priest stood, as the organ of communication from the god, whenever the king came to inquire his will; for his principal god was also his oracle, aud when it was to be consulted, the king, accompanied by two or three attendants, proceeded to the door of the inner temple, and standing imediately before the obelisk, inquired respecting the declaration of war, the conclusion of peace, or any other affair of importance. The answer was given by the priest in a distinct and audible voice, though, like that of other oracles, it was frequently very ambiguous. On the return of the king, the answer he had received was publicly proclaimed, and generally acted upon. I have frequently asked the people, whether, on these occasions, there was not some previous agreement between the king and the priest. They generally answered in the negative, or said they did not know.

"On the outside, just at the entrance to the inner court, was the place of the rere (altar), on which human and other sacrifices were offered. The remains of

one of the pillars that supported it were pointed out by the natives, and the pavement around was strewed with bones of men and animals, the mouldering remains of those numerous offerings once presented there. About the centre of the terrace was the spot where the king's sacred house stood, in which he resided during the season of strict tahu, and at the north end, the place occupied by the houses of priests, who, with the exception of the king, were the only persons permitted to dwell within the sacred enclosure.. Holes were seen on the walls, all around this, as well as the lower terraces, where wooden idols of varied size and shape formerly stood, casting their hideous stare in every direction. Tairi, or Kukairimoku, a large wooden idol, crowned with a helmet, and covered with red feathers, the favourite war god of Tamehameha, was the principal idol. To him the heiau was dedicated, and for his occasional residence it was built. On the day in which he was brought within its precincts, vast offerings of fruit, hogs, and dogs were presented, and no less than eleven human victims immolated on its altars. And, although the huge pile now resembles a dismantled fortress, whose frown no longer strikes terror through the surrounding country, yet it is impossible to walk over such a golgotha, or contemplate a spot which must often have resembled a pandemonium more than any thing on earth, without a strong feeling of horror at the recollection of the bloody and infernal rites so frequently practised within its walls. Thanks be to God, the idols are destroyed! Thanks to his name, the glorious gospel of his Son, who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, has reached these heretofore desolate shores! May the Holy Spirit make it the savour of life unto life' to the remnant of the people!"—pp. 65—68.

It is well known that Captain Cook, the celebrated navigator, was killed on the island of Hawaii, or Owyhee, and the following account of that disastrous affair will not be unacceptable to our readers.

"The foreigner,' they say, 'was not to blame; for, in the first instance, our people stole his boat, and he, in order to recover it, designed to take our king on board his ship, and detain him there till it Taraiopu our king were walking together should be restored. Kapena Kuke* and towards the shore, when our people, conscious of what had been done, thronged round the king, aud objected to his going

* Captain Cook's name is thus pronounced by the natives.

distance to the southward, in order to avoid the deep chasm in the lava. Near the place where we crossed over, there was an extensive cavern. The natives sat down on the top of the arch by which it was formed, and began eating their sugar-cane, a portable kind of provision usually carried on their journeys, while we explored the cavern in hopes of finding fresh water. In several places drops of water, beautifully clear, constantly filtered through the vaulted arch, and fell into calabashes placed underneath to receive it. Unfortunately for us, these were all nearly empty. Probably some thirsty traveller had been there but a short time before.

"Leaving the wood, we entered a waste of dry sand, about four miles across. The travelling over it was extremely fatiguing, as we sunk in to our ancles at every step. The sand was of a dark olive colour, fine and sparkling, parts of it adhering readily to the magnet, and being raised up in heaps in every direction, presented a surface resembling, colour excepted, that of drifted snow.

"It was undoubtedly volcanic; but whether thrown out of any of the adjacent craters in its present form, or made up of small particles of decomposed lava, and the crystalline olivin, we had observed so abundant in the lava of the southern shore, and drifted by the constant trade-wind from the vast tract of lava to the eastward, we could not determine.

"When we had nearly passed through it, we sat down on a heap of lava to rest and refresh ourselves, having taken nothing since the preceding noon. About ten o'clock, Messrs. Bishop and Goodrich reached the place where we were sitting. They had heard by some travellers, that two or three days would elapse before Makoa would overtake them, and deeming it inexpedient to wait so long, had procured a guide, and early this morning set out from Kapapala to follow the rest of the party.

Having refreshed ourselves, we resumed our journey, taking a northerly direction towards the columns of smoke, which we could now distinctly perceive. Our way lay over a wide waste of ancient lava, of a black colour, compact and heavy, with a shining vitreous surface, sometimes entirely covered with obsidian, and frequently thrown up, by the expansive force of vapour or heated air, into conical mounds, from six to twelve feet hight, which were, probably, by the same power rent into a number of pieces, from the apex to the base. The hollows between the mounds and long ridges were filled with volcanic sand, and fine particles of olivin, or decomposed lava.

"This vast tract of lava resembled in appearance an inland sea, bounded by distant mountains. Once it had certainly been in a fluid state, but appeared as if it

had become suddenly petrified, or turned into a glassy stone, while its agitated billows were rolling to and fro. Not only were the large swells and bollows distinctly marked, but in many places the surface of these billows was covered by a smaller ripple, like that observed on the surface of the sea at the first springing up of a breeze, or the passing currents of air which produce what the sailors call a cat's-paw. The billows may have been raised by the force which elevated the mounds or hills, but they look as if the whole mass, extending several miles, had, when in a state of perfect fusion, been agitated with a violent undulating or heaving motion.

"The sun had now risen in his strength, and his bright rays, reflected from the sparkling sand, and undulated surface of the vitreous lava, dazzled our eyes and caused considerable pain, particularly as the trade-wind blew fresh in our faces, and continually drove into our eyes particles of sand. This part of our journey was unusually laborious, not only from the heat of the sun and the reflection from the lava, but also from the unevenness of its surface, which obliged us constantly to tread on an inclined plane, in some places as smooth and almost as slippery as glass, where the greatest caution was necessary to avoid a fall. Frequently we chose to walk along on the ridge of a billow of lava, though considerably circuitous, rather than pass up and down its polished sides. Taking the trough, or hollow between the waves, was found safer, but much more fatiguing, as we sunk every step ancle-deep into the sand. The natives ran along the ridges, stepping like goats from one ridge to another. They, however, occasionally descended into the hollows, and made several marks with their feet in the sand at short distances, for the direction of two or three native boys with our provisions, and some of their companions, who had fallen behind early in the morning, not being able to keep up with the foremost party.

"Between eleven and twelve we passed a number of conical hills on our right, which the natives informed us were craters. A quantity of sand was collected round their base, but whether thrown out by them, or drifted thither by the wind, they could not inform us. In their vicinity we also passed several deep chasms, from which, in a number of places, small columns of vapour arose, at frequent and irregular intervals. They appeared to proceed from Kirauea, the great volcano, and extended towards the sea in a southeast direction. Probably they are connected with Ponahohoa, and may mark the course of a vast subterraneous channel, leading from the volcano to the shore. The surface of the lava on both