ty Islands: viz. Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, and Borabora. Two Chiefs of Borabora, named Tefaaora and Mai, have distinguished themselves by their zeal in destroying the gods, and erecting a house for the worship of the true God. The Chiefs of these islands have sent letters and repeated messages to us, earnestly entreating us to send some of our number to them, to teach them also: and Mai, a Chief of Borabora, sent us a letter to remind us that Jesus Christ and his apostles did not confine their instructions to one place or country. A war broke out lately at Raiatea also, one principal cause of which was that Tapa and others had cast away and destroyed the gods. The idolaters were resolved to avenge this, and consequently attacked Tapa and his friends, but were themselves, as at Tahiti, entirely defeated, and afterwards treated with much more lenity than they deserved; but though they were then subdued, yet there is still a party at Raiatea talking of war, and the restoration of the gods; but it is to be hoped that they will not be able to effect any thing of consequence, as the great majority of the people appear decidedly in favour of Christianity. Since the above happy change of affairs at Tahiti, brother Nott, at the request of the brethren, went over on a visit to Tahiti, accompanied by brother Hayward. He preached to the people in every district all around the islands. Large congregations assembled with readiness every where, and their attention and behaviour was very encouraging. At the present time brother Bicknell is there, partly for the purpose of preaching to the people in the different districts, and thinking also that the voyage and journey might be conducive to the restoration of his health, which is much impaired, and has been in a very precarious state for many months past. - The School, notwithstanding former discouragements, has prospered exceedingly, and continues to prosper; though at present many hundreds of the scholars are scattered through the neighbouring islands, some of whom are teaching others in the different islands and districts where they reside, and thus, through their means, some knowledge of reading and writing has spread far and wide.-There are at least 3000 people who have some books, and can make use of them. Many hundreds can read well; and there are among them about 400 copies of the Old Testament history; and 400 of the New, which is an abridgment of the four Evangelists, and part of the Acts of the Apostles. Many chapters of Luke's Gospel in manuscript are also in circulation; and 1000 copies of our Tahitian Catechism, which several hundreds have learnt, and can perfectly repeat. The Spelling-books which were printed in London, of which we had we suppose about 700, having been expended long ago, we had lately 2000 copies of a lesser Spelling-book printed in the colony. These we have received and distributed; and there is an earnest call from all the islands for more books, the desire to learn to read and write being universal. We want a new edition of the above mentioned books, and are now preparing the Gospel of Luke for the press. We intended to send the Catechism and small Spelling-book to the colony by this conveyance, and get 2000 or 3000 printed; but having heard that a printing press is sent out for us, we thought it best to wait a while, notwithstanding the urgent call of the natives, as we wish to prevent expense as much as possible. From a view of our present circumstances, our deficiencies, and the state of the mission, we rejoiced to learn that the Directors thought proper to accede to our request, and to add to our number, and that among those who are intended for these islands, there is a person that understands printing; we hope the others also are such as the present state of the mission particularly requires, and such as we have pointed out in our former letters, viz. 'such as pos sess a true missionary spirit, suitable abilities to acquire the language, and to engage in the immediate work of the mission, particularly to assist in the translation of the Scriptures.' If this should be the case, and our hope be realized, we and our people will have cause to rejoice for such a timely supply. On the other hand, should the case be reversed, our disappointment and regret will be proportionably great. The present state of the islands makes us decidedly of opinion that there should be at least two missionary establishments, one for Tahiti and this island, and one for the Leeward Islands; but we are anxiously looking for the arrival of those brethren said to be coming to us, and for further information and directions from you, so that we may know better how to act. We enclose another friendly letter of his Exellency Governor Macquarie; as also a letter from Pomare, concerning his family gods, which have been delivered to us, that we might either destroy them, or, if we think proper, send them to you. We have chosen the latter, and send them by this conveyance, nailed up in a case directed to Mr. Hardcastle. These are the king's family gods, and are a good specimen of the whole. The great national ones, which were of the same kind, only much larger, have been some time ago entirely destroyed. Your brethren, &c. &c. HENRY BICKNELL, To the Directors of the Missionary Soaiety, &c. WILLIAM HENRY, SAMUEL TESSIER, CHARLES WILSON. TRANSLATION OF A LETTER FROM POMARE, KIng of tahiti, (ota FRIENDS, HEITE.) To the Missionaries. May you be saved by Jehovah and Jesus Christ our Saviour. This is my speech to you, my friends. I wish you to send those idols to Britane for the Missionary Society, that they may know the likeness of the gods that Tahiti worshipped. Those were my own idols, belonging to our family from the time of Taaroamanahune* *Taaroamanahune lived some ages ago, and was one of the ancestors of Pomare's family. even to Variaatoa*: and when he died he left them with me. And now, having been made acquainted with the true God, with Jehovah, He is my God, and when this body of mine shall be dissolved in death may the Three-One save me! And this is my shelter, my close hiding place, even from the anger of Jehovah. When he looks upon me, I will hide me at the feet of Jesus Christ the Saviour, that I may escape. I feel pleasure and satisfaction in my mind; I rejoice, I praise Jehovah, that he hath made known his word unto me. I should have gone to destruction if Jehovah had not interposed.-Many have died and are gone to destruction, kings and common people; they died without knowing any thing of the true God; and now when it came to the small remainder of the people, Jehovah hath been pleased to make known his word, and we are made acquainted with his good word, made acquainted with the deception of the false gods, with all that is evil and false. The true God Jehovah, it was he that made us acquainted with these things. It was you that taught us; but the words, the knowledge, was from Jehovah. It is because of this that I rejoice, and I pray to Jehovah that he may increase my abhorrence of every evil way. The Three-One, He it is that can make the love of sin to cease; we cannot effect that; man cannot effect it; it is the work of God to cause evil things, to be cast off, and the love of them to cease. I am going a journey around Tahiti, to acquaint the Ratiras with the word of God, and to cause them to be vigilant about good things. The word of God does grow in Tahiti, and the Raatiras are diligent about setting up houses for worship; they are also diligent in seeking instruction, and now it is well with Tahiti. That principal idol that has the red feathers of the Otuu is Temeharof; that is his name, look you, you may know it by the red feathers; that was Vairaatoa's own god, and those feathers were from the ship of Lieut. Watts [in 1788;] it was Vairaatoa that set them himself about the idol. If you think proper, you may burn them all in the fire; or, if you like, send them to your country, for the inspection of the people of Europe, that they may satisfy their curiosity, and know Tahiti's foolish gods! This is also one thing that I want to inquire of you; when I go around Tahita, it may be that the Ratiras and others will ask me to put down their names; what shall I do then? Will it be proper for me to write down their names? It is with you-you are our teachers, and you are to direct us. We have had our prayer-meeting the beginning of this month, February; it was at Homai-au-Vahi; the Ratiras and all the people of the district assembled, leaving their houses without people. They said to me,' Write down our * Vairaatoa, one of the names of old Pomare, the king's father, and though a friend to the Missionaries, yet he was a most zealous advocate for the gods, and the old religion. Temeharo was one of the principal family gods of the royal family of Tahiti ; but Oro was the principal national god, and to him alone human sacrifices were offered, at least in modern times. Temeharo is said to have a brother called Tia: these were famous men deified after their death. * 39 names.' I answered, "It is agreed.' Those names are in the enclosed paper, which I have sent for your inspection. Have I done wrong in this? Perhaps I have; let me, my friends, know the whole of your mind in respect of this matter.* May you, my friends, be saved by Jehovah the true God. I have written to Mahine for a house for the use of the Missionaries`; when they arrive you will let Mahine know where the house is to be, and he will get the people to remove it there. Let it be at Uaeva, near you. It is reported here that there is a ship at Morea, and I was thinking it might be the ship with the Missionaries; but it may be that it is only an idle report. However, should the Missionaries arrive at Moorea, write to me quickly, that I may know. Let me know also what news there may be from Europe, and from Port Jackson. Perhaps King George may be dead, let me know. I shall not go around Tahiti before the month of March. May you be saved, my friends, by Jehovah, and Jesus Christ, the only Saviour, by whom we sinners can be saved. POMARE, King of Tahiti, &c. &c. Tahiti Motuta, Feb. 19, 1816. 1041 Correspondence of the London Tract Society. The Committee of THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY (of London) have lately issued a printed sheet of Extracts from their correspondence subsequent to the last annual Report of that Institution, for the purpose of circulating among its auxiliaries and elsewhere the interesting intelligence contained therein. That sheet we have recently received. We have room only to insert the following Extracts from it in this Number of the Christian Herald: I have received and drawn your Society's grant of 500l., in behalf of Mr. Milne, for the publication of Religious Tracts in the Chinese Language. Those he has composed I deem exceedingly well calculated, under the blessing of God our Saviour, to promote the diffusion of divine truth. He complains much of want of health, in his last letters. I have here a very anxious time, from the Government being so averse to the least acquaintance with their language. We must look to God, our Father and our Friend, for help. I would study to give no offence in any thing; and at the same time I wish to * This was in imitation of us; for during 1814 and 1815, after our monthly missionary prayer-meetings, we used to take down the names of such as renounced heathenism and embraced Christianity in a public manner; but since the state of affairs is altered in the islands, and the profession of Christianity is become general, we have thought proper to discontinue the practice, as now not likely to answer the ends intended. avoid an undue fear of man. I often pray that I may be prepared to suffer and to die for the sake of our Lord Jesus! and, though conscious of great unworthiness, I trust the unseen hand of the Almighty sustains me. From the Rev. Wm. Milne. Malacca, July 25th, 1816. By the kind aid of the Religious Tract Society, I go on publishing Tracts; and have the satisfaction to know that they are sought after by multitudes of the Chinese. From the late Rev. J. C. Supper. Batavia, Java, Oct. 17th, 1816. Long before I left Europe, I felt in a great degree the importance of the Religious Tract Society; but never so much as I have done since the worthy Missionary Milne and myself commenced the distribution of your Tracts among our Chinese brethren in this island; to whom they appear to have been of much benefit. They read with much delight these little Messengers of grace, which prepare their minds for the Bible, and for the exertions of Missionaries. By the good providence of God, I have been enabled to establish among the Chinese a the Chinese a Reading Society, consisting of sixty persons, who are supplied with sixty copies of each Tract, every month, which I receive regularly from Mr. Milne at Malacca ; and when these sixty have read them, they put them into the hands of their brethren, for the like purpose. I will not say that these Chinese are become Christians; but that they have, through the means of these Tracts, become acquainted with Christianity, is a fact which none can reasonably deny; and which I feel constrained to communicate, for the encouragement of the Members of the Religious Tract Society. Last week, I received from Mr. Milne sixty copies of a Tract On the importance of speaking Truth; and two Chinese being at my house, a butcher and a shoemaker, I presented them each with a copy, which they read, at my request. When, in order to try if they understood and kept in mind what they had been reading, I inquired, if they did not, by the contents of those Tracts, learn that it is their duty to speak falsehood, and to be dishonest whenever they have opportunity, "Oh! no," (replied the shoemaker,) on the contrary, we are here taught that we should speak truth, and be honest at all times;" and the butcher with an air of reverence, said, "The great Lord of Heaven speaks to us in this book." The Dutch and German Tracts which I received from your Society before I left London, were distributed soon after my arrival here, and read with great interest; and, I hope, with no less advantage, by many. If you could send me more Dutch, German, and Portuguese Tracts, I should feel much obliged, as I am ready to devote myself to the Religious Tract Society, as I have done to the Missionary and Bible Societies. A share in your noble exertions I consider to be of more value than all the gold of Ophir, or the riches of India. You may therefore command my services |