AND SURROUNDING SCENERY. 69 more inland, or slightly screened by the shade of a small clump or single tree; and some, again, standing unsheltered and alone, in the midst of a wide spreading field. Such was the foreground; while behind, an extensive country, marked in two or three places by old, long extinguished, and now verdant craters rose gradually for miles, to the stately forests enriching the broad bases of Mounaroa and Mounakea, both in distinct view-the first appearing far in the south, above and beyond a line of green forests, in one long, regular, and distant arch of blue-the last, seemingly near, towering loftily against the western sky, in irregular and broken summits of gigantic magnitude. The admiration of all on board was greatly excited by the scene. I thought, myself, I had scarce ever gazed on one of simple nature more rich and lovely: and we all rejoiced to be informed, from the captain, that being now at anchor, the Vincennes would remain at least a week. or ten days, before proceeding to the leeward. I early took leave of the ship, to spend the evening and night on shore, and kept my friends from their rest long beyond their accustomed hour. As is almost invariably the case in this district, heavy showers of rain fell during the latter part of the night and morning, and every thing without became so perfectly drenched, that I was kept within doors till a late hour. I felt no disposition, however, to complain of the cause, for the pattering of the rain on the thatch of the roof and sides of the house, proved a lullaby so soothing, as to make my repose of the kind, that "delights Above the luxury of common sleep." LETTER III. A WORSHIPING ASSEMBLY AT HIDO. U. S. Ship Vincennes, Byron's Bay, THE scenes of the sabbath have been such, dear H, that a review of them, in my own mind, will not be an abuse of sacred time-nor will their perusal give rise to thoughts and affections unsuited to a day of God. At an early hour of the morning, even before we had taken our breakfast on board ship, a single islander here or there, or a group of three or four, wrapped in their large mantles of various hues, might be seen winding their way among the groves, fringing the bay on the east, or descending from the hills and ravine on the north, towards the chapel; and by degrees their numbers increased, till, in a short time, every path along the beach and over the uplands, presented an almost uninterrupted procession of both sexes and of every age, all pressing to the house of God. So few canoes were round the ship yesterday, and the landing place had been so little thronged, as SABBATH MORNING. 71 our boats passed to and fro, that one might have thought the district but thinly inhabited; but now, such multitudes were seen gathering from various directions, that the exclamation, "What crowds of people! what crowds of people!" was heard from the quarter-deck to the forecastle. Even to myself, it was a sight of surprise: surprise not at the magnitude of the population, but that the object, for which they were evidently assembling, should bring together so great a multitude. And as my thoughts re-echoed the words "what crowds of people !" remembrances and affections of deep power came over me; and the silent musings of my heart were "what a change—what a happy change!" When at this very place, only four years ago, the known wishes and example of chiefs of high authority, the daily persuasion of teachers, added to motives of curiosity and novelty, could scarce induce a hundred of the inhabitants to give an irregular, careless, and impatient attendance on the services of the sanctuary. But now, "Like mountain torrents pouring to the main, The scene, as looked on from our ship, in the stillness of a brightly beaming sabbath morning, was well calculated with its associations, to prepare the mind for strong impressions on a nearer view, when the conclusion of our own public worship should allow us to go on shore. Mr. Goodrich had apprised us, that he had found it expedient to hold the ser vices of the sabbath, usually attended at all the other stations at nine o'clock in the morning, and at four in the afternoon, both in the forepart of the day, that all might have the benefit of two sermons, and still reach their abodes before nightfall. For, "Numbers dwelt remote, And first must traverse many a weary mile, To reach the altar of the God they love." And it was arranged, that, on this occasion, the second service should be postponed, till the officers should be at liberty to leave the ship. It was near 12 o'clock, when we went on shore; the captain and 1st lieut., the purser, surgeon, several of the midshipmen and myself. Though the services had commenced when we landed, large numbers were seen circling the doors without, but as we afterwards found, only from the impracticability of obtaining places within. The house is an immense structure, capable of containing many thousands, every part of which was filled, except a small area in front of the pulpit, where seats were reserved for us, and to which we made our way, in slow and tedious procession, from the difficulty of finding a spot to place even our footsteps without treading on limbs of the people, seated on their feet, as closely almost, as they could be stowed. As we entered, Mr. Goodrich paused in his sermon till we should be seated. I ascended the pulpit beside him, from which I had a full view of the congregation. The suspense of attention in the people was only momentary, notwithstanding the entire novelty to them of the laced coats, cocked hats, and other appendages of naval uniform. I can scarce describe the emotions experienced, in glancing an eye over the immense number, seated so thickly on the matted floor as to seem literally one mass of heads, covering an area of more than nine thousand square feet. The sight was most striking, and soon became, not only to myself, but to some of my fellowofficers, deeply affecting. I have gazed on many worshiping assemblies, and of every variety of character, from those formed of the high and the princely-with a splendor and pageantry of train befitting the magnificence of the cathedrals in which they bowed-to the humblest "two or three" who ever came together at a place "where prayer is wont to be made." I have listened with delighted attention to some of the highest eloquence, the pulpits of America and England of the present day can boast, and have watched with sympathetic excitement the effect produced by it, till all who heard were wrapt into an enthusiasm of high toned feeling, at the sublimity of the theme presented. I have seen tears of conviction and of penitence flow freely even to the seeming breaking of the heart, under the sterner truths of the word of God and not unfrequently too, have witnessed, as the annunciation of "Peace-be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee," has fallen on the soul, smiles of hope and joy, such as would adorn an angel's brow, rapidly take their place. But it was left for a worshiping assembly at Hido, the most obscure corner of these distant islands, to excite the liveliest emotions ever experienced, and leave the deepest im |