TO THE PRESIDENT. 49 to the President of this Mr. Williams has furnished the following translation: "President, Raiatea, September 26th, 1829. "In consequence of your kindness I write a letter to you. You sent a man-of-war formerly to our land, commanded by Captain Jones; he treated us with great kindness. You have now sent another man-of-war, commanded by Captain Finch; his kindness to us has also been great: we are highly pleased with his visit. I now write to you to express my gratitude; also to inform you of our present state. "I am a female-the first queen of Tahiti— Queen Pomaré I. is my name. I am daughter to Pomaré II. When he died the government devolved on my little brother-he died, the government then became mine. I am young and inexperienced. "We have cast away the worship of idols, and have embraced the worship of our common Lord. In the year 1814 we embraced Christianity. "We have missionaries on the island, who are diligent in teaching us that which will promote our welfare. Some have been with us upwards of thirty years. "We have laws by which we are governed. I cannot send you a copy, I being on a visit to my grand-father at Raiatea. "Tahiti and Eimeo are the largest islands in my government. We have not many people-perhaps ten thousand. "There is not much property at my island-arrowroot and cocoanut oil are the principal. We have abundance of food, and excellent harbors for ships: 50 RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE many American vessels call at Tahiti-tell them to continue to call, and we will treat them well. "All kinds of cotton cloth are in demand here for barter-white, printed, blue-shawls, ribbons, axes, are all good property to bring, to procure refresh ments. "We have a new flag given us by Captain Lawes, of the Satellite, British man-of-war; will you kindly acknowledge it in traversing the seas, and in visiting you, as yours is by us-should that be the case at a distant period. "Captain Finch has made myself, and mother, and aunt, with others, some handsome presents in your name, for which receive my gratitude. We are always glad to see American vessels at Tahiti. Continue to sail your vessels without suspicion. Our harbors are good and our refreshments abundant. "Prosperity attend you, President of the United States of America-may your good government be of long duration. QUEEN POMARE I." Tamatoa, the king of Raiatea, has also prepared a communication of similar import, to be transmitted to the president, by Captain Finch. Lieutenant Stribling and myself attended a meeting this afternoon, held weekly by Mr. Williams, with those of his congregation who have been baptized. It is the intention of this gentleman, in the course of a few months, to make an extensive voyage among the islands west of the Georgian and Society groups; and to carry with him a number of the AND SPEECH OF A CHURCH MEMBER. 51 natives of Raiatea, of established piety, to be left as teachers, wherever it may be found practicable. Eight of his parishioners have given their names to him in view of this enterprise; and he chose this opportunity to communicate the fact to the members of the church; and to ask their opinion of the fitness of the individuals for the undertaking, and the propriety of their entering upon it. The introduction of the subject led to a number of sensible, and excellent speeches. One of them contained a very pretty allusion to the visit of the Vincennes, and the policy of Captain Finch, with an application to the contemplated voyage of Mr. Williams. It was much as follows: "A large manof-war is now with us. She has come from afar with kind motives and designs of good to ourselves and those like us. Her object is to learn our condition, and to encourage us to seek our own welfare. Her officers have their reward: they are covered and crowned with gold-they wear gold on their shoulders and gold on their heads, (alluding to the lace and epaulets of their uniform) it is their reward. My sentiment is that we too, send out a vessel to those more ignorant and poorer than ourselves, to do them good. Those of us who go on this expedition, will not, like these our friends, be crowned with gold for their reward. No! they will receive nothing in this world perhaps still they shall be crowned. Yes! theirs shall be the crown of eternal life, to be given them, at last, by their Lord and Master Jesus Christ!" The evening has been spent, as usual, at the mission-house. I have become much attached both to 52 GENERAL ASPECT Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Mrs. Williams is an amiable and intelligent woman-well educated and of good manners; and Mr. Williams is admirably fitted, in every respect, for a missionary; and long has been, and still is the instrument of immense good among this people. LETTER VIII. DEPARTURE FOR THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. U. S. Ship Vincennes, at sea, YESTERDAY morning, we hove short before breakfast; and at nine o'clock took our anchor to bid farewell to the Society Islands. A native pilot— a fine looking and respectable man-conducted the ship to the open sea. Mr. Williams also politely accompanied us beyond the reef. The egress from the harbor is not by the passage through which we entered, but round the north end of the island, six or eight miles from the settlement, on the opposite side. The channel is of easy and safe navigation; and the regular trade wind fair the whole distance. After gliding past the reef, and exchanging affectionate salutations with Mr. Williams, we filled away, in the direction of Borabora, twentyfive miles distant. This island is of a striking contour, and readily distinguished from any other of the group, by a central mountain, rising almost perpen dicularly on every side, a height of more than two thousand feet. It is partially divided into two elevations or shafts, with a curvature on the southern side from the base to the top, giving it the appearance at a distance of a thin shell of rock. There is a ship channel between Borabora and Tahaa, fifteen miles southeast of it; but we passed to the westward of both, and then ran north, with Maurua, the most leeward of the cluster, in sight, at a distance of thirty miles. Before evening we were near Tubai, a small coral island covered with cocoanut and pandanus, the last of the group; and at sunset, took a departure from it, with the hope of a speedy run over the two thousand five hundred miles separating us from the Sandwich Islands. From the outline of our visit, at the Georgian and Society Islands, which I have thus given, you will perceive, dear H, that I have left you to consult the recent publication of Mr. Ellis for all that is most important, in the history, present state, and prospects of their inhabitants. In the letters I have written, however, there is sufficient evidence, I trust, to prove them decidedly and interestingly a civilized and Christian people; and to present a conclusive and delightful demonstration of the power of the gospel on the nature, habits, and life of untutored man. Their geographical location is such, that it may be long before they rise, as a nation, to any great degree of commercial or political importance, or by agricultural improvements-beyond those introduced in supply of a home consumption-and by trade, become richly furnished with the luxuries of wealth VOL. II. 6 |