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HUMANITY OF THE CONQUERORS.

fierce, and wavering in its issues, as the desultory conflicts of undisciplined combatants must be. While the foremost warriors of the king's army were thus engaged with open breast, and arm to arm, against their desperate assailants, a corps of chosen men, defiling through a wood that flanked the field, emerged from thence in the critical juncture, and fell with irresistible impetuosity upon the rear of the latter, levelling and routing all before them. The chief commander of the idolaters was slain, and the intelligence of his death being rapidly communicated through the ranks of his followers, already broken, a panic seized them, and they fled in utter confusion to the mountains.

The prophet of Oro, among the most disheartened and terrified, sought refuge with the rest in the recesses of the interior. He has since declared that the power of Oro then forsook him-the evil spirit went out of him, and never afterwards returned. Pomare's conquering bands were eager to pursue the fugitives and complete the victory, though they disavowed the purpose of destroying them. The king, however, interfered, and said, in a style of oriental magnificence, "The mountains are mine: follow not the vanquished thither! The motus (the low coral islets where the enemy had left their wives and children) are mine: let them alone there also. Proceed only along the open ways. Take no lives-take nothing but the spoils which you find in the field or on the roads." The idolatrous prisoners were so affected by the king's lenity, and the forbearance of the victors generally—having expected, as a matter of course, to be barbarously murdered in cold blood-that many of them immediately offered to join Pomare's army. These were magnanimously pardoned, and received into his service; _so that, on that very day, idolaters who had fought for Oro and his priests united in rendering thanks to the only true God for the victory which the Christians had obtained. Others of the dispersed adversaries, when they saw and heard how differently the king acted on this great occasion from the inhuman usages of their country, gave themselves up at discretion, coming with their weapons in their hands, and words of peace on their lips. They were all made welcome. Thus ended that glorious day for Tahiti-glorious, not for Tahiti only, but for all the islands in the Pacific whither the gospel has subsequently been carried from that Zion in the West.

REBEL PRIEST OF ORO SPARED.

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On the evening of the battle, the aforementioned prophet of Oro stole down from his retreat to the beach, with one attendant only. There they seized a small canoe, and put off to sea; but the courage of the attendant failing, he flung himself into the water, at the reef, and swam on shore. The prophet, therefore, pursued his voyage alone, through the darkness of the night; and, by almost incredible exertions, reached Eimeo in safety. On landing he went and delivered himself up to the queen, whom Pomare had left behind under the care of Mr. Nott. The missionary was consulted as to what ought to be done with this strange and terrible being, who was known to be at once one of the most implacable of the king's enemies, and the most malignant of the opposers of Christianity. A hesitating word from Mr. Nott might have caused him to be massacred, without mercy, on the spot. "Let him live; do him no harm; give him food," said the Christian teacher; and his advice was obeyed. The humbled and astonished captive was overcome by such unexampled kindness; and, being allowed his liberty, he began to attend the school for adults: soon afterwards he made open profession of the faith of the gospel, and has thenceforward conducted himself as a sincere convert.

Such was the effect, upon the minds of the natives at large, of the clemency shown to the defeated rebels in Tahiti, that a spirit of prayer came upon the whole population; and the voice of penitence, of supplication, or thanksgiving, resounded at all hours of the day from the bushes, under cover of which the people-men, women, and children, socially or singly-retired to give utterance to their desires, their fears, or their exultation, under the conviction of sin, alarm at the judgments which they heard denounced by the new religion against the wicked, or their joy, hope, and peace in believing. The priests of Oro were maddened by this change, which they could not prevent; they threatened the king, the people, the missionaries, but their rage was impotence. Their idols could not save either themselves or their worshippers; all the former perished, and many of the latter turned from them to serve the living God.

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VISIT TO BUNAAUIA.

CHAPTER VII.

Visit to Bunaauia-Maubuaa, or the Swine-owner-Man punished for Swearing-Return to Matavai-Coral-groves-King of Borabora's Solicitude to have a Missionary-Eagerness of the People to obtain Books-Anecdote of Pomare-Visit of Captain Walker-Simple Substitute for Bellows-Interview with Pomare-Sail to EimeoExamination of Candidates for Church-fellowship-Public Fast and Prayers for the King-Anecdote of Raiatean Affection towards a Missionary-Shaving Process-Singular Species of Crab-Native Generosity-Evils resulting from the Use of Stills-Taro-Plantation-The Hoop-Snake-A Court of Justice-First Burning of Idols.

Nov. 15. WE sailed coastwise, this afternoon, to Bunaauia, to visit the missionary station where Messrs. Darling and Bourne labor. By the way we touched, in our slight boat, upon many sunken rocks, which lie thick between the reef and the shore; but in every instance we escaped without injury.

We have been gratified with a sight of the printing-office, from which, besides portions of the scriptures, a translation of Dr. Watts's catechisms, and a complete edition of Tahitian hymns, have recently been issued. We afterwards proceeded to the chapel; it occupies a piece of ground formerly desecrated by a vast marae, of which there is yet a relic undestroyed-a memorial reminding beholders of what hath passed away, and from what thraldom the children have been delivered whose fathers Satan had bound, it may be through a series of ages, since these islands were first colonized by sinners, who, descended from Adam, "have gone in the way of Cain." The country hereabout is well cultivated, and proportionately fruitful. We were glad to see many dwellings in progress of erection upon the improved plan of wattling and plaster; having the interior divided into convenient family apartments. Proofs of industry and advancement in civilization were discernible every where, in the persons, the dress, the manners, and the habitations of the natives. Formerly the desultory, roving, and indolent habits of the whole population of these islands prevented them from taking any unnecessary pains to build their houses for permanent occupation. The provident and well-regulated modes of living, introduced with the gospel, have proved favorable to improvement in every way, and perhaps in

MAUBUAA, OR THE SWINE-OWNER.

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none more than in their domestic economy, from which, decency, good order, and comfort have expelled the grossness, confusion, and filthiness of what might be called promiscuous intercourse-when men, women, and children, inmates and strangers, ate, drank, and lodged, in one long, narrow apartment, of which the whole structure consisted. So much are the residents in this district pleased with the happy innovations lately adopted, that at a public meeting, expressly convened for that purpose, a resolution I was passed, that any house thereafter built in the old slovenly style might be pulled down by any body, and the dilapidator should be exempt from punishment.

A few mornings ago a woman, with an infant in her arms, called on the missionaries here to beg a little milk. Being asked whose child it was that she carried, she answered, "Mine. To a second question, as to its age, she said, "It was born last night, when the moon was yonder," pointing to that part of the heavens from which the beautiful planet had lighted her babe into the world. The pains of parturition are comparatively mild in this genial clime, and under the favorable circumstances which freedom from artificial restraint in clothing, and bodily exercise naturally produce. Yet there are here occasional cases of death among the women from that

cause.

Nov. 17. Several chiefs of this district have waited upon us with presents of fruit and hogs. Among these was one named Maubuaa, or pig-owner. His office, under the idolatrous system, was to provide human sacrifices when the king required such from this neighborhood. With a stone, or other weapon, he used to spring upon his selected victims, unawares, and, when slaughtered, packed the bodies in cocoa-leaf baskets, and delivered them to be hung up, according to custom, on sacred trees, round the maraes of Oro. This man has slain many for such horrid offerings. He is now a member of a Christian church, and, to all appearance, a new creature."

The missionaries have sometimes much to bear with in the conduct and conversation of their converts,-even those who have given satisfactory evidence of their genuine change of heart. The day on which Upaparu, a chief of the district of Matavai, had been baptized, he addressed Mr. Bourne in a very improper spirit, rudely demanding,

122

MAN PUNISHED FOR SWEARING.

"What are you teaching us? And why do you not instruct us in English, and other things besides religion?" "A soft answer "" turned away his wrath, though it did not satisfy him; he went away offended. A day or two afterwards, reading the words of our Savior to his disciples," He that despiseth you, despiseth me," he was smitten to the heart, and became so troubled on account of his bad behavior to the missionary, that, though he held out some time, he could neither eat nor sleep till he had confessed his fault and obtained reconciliation.

In the afternoon it was announced to us, that the congregation of Christian natives had met in the school-room, and desired to see us. We found about five hundred present, whom we affectionately addressed on their privileges and duties. They then signified their wish to be permitted, individually, to shake hands with us, in token of their esteem, and we cheerfully consented; the women first, the men next, and the children last, coming forward in turn thus to congratulate us on our arrival among them. A hymn of praise was then sung, and Mr. Bourne concluded this meeting of warm hearts and happy countenances with prayer.

Not only the chapel, but the school-house in which we had just met, and the dwellings of the missionaries, stand upon the ground of the demolished heathen temple already mentioned. It was of great extent, and was held in such veneration formerly that it was usual for the inhabitants of the adjacent valley, which winds into the interior of the island, to come every morning, and offer prayers on their knees, at this shrine of the prince of darkness.

Nov. 18. Being the Sabbath, public worship was devoutly attended by congregations of seven to eight hundred persons. An ignorant old man, who had made no decided profession of religion, was excluded from divine service, and required to stand on the outside of the chapel during its performance. He had been guilty of profane swearing, which in the eyes of these people is a heinous offence. In a fit of passion he had threatened one who had provoked him, in very peculiar phraseology, namely," that he would kill, and deliver him to be eaten by his God." This menace, in their idolatrous state, was regarded as the most dreadful that could be uttered; and the culprit, on the present occasion, was punished by the authority of the chiefs, who, though they mingle not only in the sanctuary but in general