flicts. On the events of that night becoming known to the Malo, a war of revenge was at once resolved upon. After preparatory meetings and consultations, in the several islands, a general fomo or parliament, assembled at Manono. At these fomos all the passions that prompt to war and bloodshed were fanned into a flame by the combined influence of insulted honor, superstition, and the spirit-stirring eloquence which the Polynesians, like all rude nations, are known to employ on such occasions. The Samoans never enter on any undertaking on the impulse of mere passion. They are a deliberative people, and, as on all other occasions, so on the one in question, their orators appealed also to the understanding. Preparations for the conflict were therefore made without delay. gigantic stature, of resolute mind, and of || Retaliation-number of combatants-conprofligate habits. His despotic and bloody rule lasted for several years, and might probably have been maintained to the present day, but that his avarice and Just were not satisfied with what the Vaivai party afforded; he treated his own party with almost equal cruelty. This led to a conspiracy on the part of some of his own people against his life. On the approach of the conspirators to the house in which he was sleeping, the men who were with him gave the alarm, and Tamafaiga, springing on his feet made his escape from the house, and plunged into the sea; but his pursuers had vowed his destruction, and it was not long before they surrounded him. He had time to utter a few sentences, which consisted of mingled threats and entreaties, and a promise that he would deliver up to the village of Fasitouta the Malo, or government, if they would spare him. But all in vain. Several wounds with spears, hatchets, and clubs, were simultaneously inflicted; the mortal one by an axe with a very long shaft, provided especially for the purpose. Nor did the work of death end with him; several of his relations and political connexions were put to death that night, by the same party. The malaga sleeping with him consisted of three or four young chiefs and their men, several of whom were also killed. One of them, Seliga, the son of Pea, the great chief of Manono, plunged into the sea, and saved himself by swimming to the next village. He is now apparently a consistent Christian and employed as a teacher. One or two others were saved by their relations. At Faleasiu, about a mile distant, was sleeping another malaga from Manono. These were suddenly surprised, when nearly all were asleep; ten of them were killed on the spot, and others severely wounded. One of the latter, a fine and intelligent young chief, is now a preacher of the Gospel, and a most efficient assistant to Mr. Heath. They have both had the gratification of teaching the Gospel of peace on the very spot on which Tamafaiga was killed. VOL. VIII. The district of Aana comprehends an extent of 40 miles. Its entire population, prior to the war, might, perhaps, have been ten thousand; but one of the subdistricts was peopled with Manono men, and another joined them in the war. Against the remainder were combined the whole of Savaii and Manono, and the other two districts of Upolu; perhaps in all 35,000, of whom the adult males with few exceptions were warriors. They had not the long round of previous ceremonies and offerings to which the Tahitian islanders were accustomed on the commencement of war. But each family, each district, each island, had its Etu* to supplicate, and the whole of the Malo had to make their offerings and prayers to the demon Tamafaiga, and to Nafanna his mother, (the goddess whose favor, it was believed, would turn the scale of success,) as well as to their respective local deities. They also observed various omens. For example, if when the Manono men proceeded to war, the bird called le matuu the crane, flew before them it was a sure sign of success. The rainbow was also regarded with great superstition; if it * Spirit. 26 appeared before them, they concluded that they were beset with evil, and turned again in despair. Formerly their principal weapon was the tao, a spear seven or eight feet long, which they were accustomed to hurl with deadly effect. They had also clubs of different kinds, made of the pau and the tao, two very hard kinds of wood. But just before this war they had learned the use, and acquired the possesion, of muskets, and these were the most effective instruments in subduing Aana. The defensive party, aware of the superior numbers of their opponents, removed their wives and children, their sick and aged, to their mountain fortresses; and there also the warriors made their camps, while their villages and the adjoining districts were filled with the thousands of their opponents. By this mode of defence they maintained their ground eight months, and it is supposed that the number of lives they took equalled or exceeded the number they lost. They had frequent set battles, in which hundreds maintained the conflict with varied advantage. At other times each side sought opportunities to surprise and cut off detached parties. The intervals were employed by the Malo party in destroying the villages of their opponents and their plantations. In July, 1836, Mr. Heath passed along the scene of these transactions, and could scarcely see a hut in a distance of ten miles, where formerly had dwelt, perhaps, 5,000 or 6,000 people. Groves of cocoa-nuts, indeed, remained; but that staff of Polynesian life, the bread-fruit tree, was everywhere cut down. The vast number of trees destroyed may almost be counted, for happily, young shoots are seen on all sides springing from the old roots. Hundreds of men on both sides fell victims each successive month, and numbers of prisoners were taken. Of the latter many were spared through their family connexions in the opposing ranks, but great numbers were deliberately put to death. Many of the females were appropriated to those by whom they were taken, and indebted to this for their lives; but one rule was uniformly observed, namely, that when a chief, or chief's son, or any person whose life was valued was killed, one or more of the prisoners were immediately murdered as a suega -a make-even. The Aana people, closely pressed on all sides, had often to divide, in order to repel simultaneous attacks. At length, after maintaining the struggle for eight months, the survivors were obliged to submit. Many indeed had from time to time contrived to escape to Savaii and other places, where they found refuge among relations, but a very large num ber at the conclusion fell into the hands of the victors, including several hundreds of women and children, and of the sick and infirm. In any civilized country these of course would have been spared; but the Samoans were not civilized. On this occasion many indeed were saved through the influence of their family connexions, but several hundreds suffered death by being cruelly burnt alive! The people have a very loose way of stating numbers, but on their recollection being taxed, some of them have told Mr. Heath that above 400 were thus sacrificed at the shrine of vengeance. That number included many of the aged, the females, and the children. To some of the men was allowed the privilege of first being killed. While these poor defenceless creatures were thrown into the flames, their victors stood around to enjoy the spectacle. Yet so piercing were the cries, and so affecting the writhings of their victims, that some of them have said, "Ua tele lo laton alofoa"-their compassions were very great. Barbarous practices abandoned since the introduction of the Gospel. The reader will perhaps not be surprised on being informed that cannibal. ism was another accompaniment of this war. Mr. Heath has had several conversations with old and respectable chiefs as to the extent of this horrid practice in the islands. He is doubtful whether he yet knows the whole truth, because they show considerable reluctance to give in- And what is become of those who escaped and those whose lives were spared? The reader will be gratified to learn that they are all restored to their lands, and are now rapidly advancing in civilization and christian knowledge. The means by which this has been effected are now to be noticed. Missionaries-favorable changes. called together a few of the chiefs, who had from the first received and countenanced the teachers. Among them was Malietoa, the most powerful chief in the islands. At this meeting the missionaries expressed their earnest wish that the war should not be renewed, and they were assured that it should not; and that if quarrels arose the chiefs would come to the teachers to have them settled. It has been since ascertained that, on the same day, Malietoa first proposed to the other chiefs that the Aana people should be restored, and it was then resolved to take means to accomplish the object. But this is not all. Nine-tenths of them are professing Christians. It so happened that most of them had resided near one or other of the teachers, and some having learned to read and pray in public, they had no sooner returned than they commenced the worship of God on the very spot where, before the war, "Satan's seat was." Eight or nine flourishing villages have appeared, where, a few months ago, scarcely a hut was to be seen, Each village has one or more schools, and divine worship is held on Sabbath, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Near the spot on which the war was terminated, by committing hundreds of living victims to the flames, the missionary has had the gratification of preaching the Gospel, to congregations of 500 or 600 people, and of administering to many the rite of Christian baptism. In one of the districts in Aana was held, in 1837, the first missionary meeting in Samoa. It was attended by 2,500 people, and was altogether highly interesting. The conquerors and the It has been stated that in 1836, just when the war was commencing, Messrs. Williams and Barff visited Samoa, to attempt the introduction of the Gospel. They succeeded. Several native teach-conquered mingled together, and chiefs ers were left by them in the islands, and to these others were added in the successive subsequent visits of the missionaries. The brethren just named also promised the Samoans that missionaries should be obtained from England as soon as possible. In fulfilment of this promise, six missionaries embarked from England in November, 1835, and arrived at the Samoan group in June, 1836. They of each party delivered speeches on the occasion, in which, while they did not forget the main object of the meeting, they severally made touching allusions to their former contests, and with them contrasted their present harmony. The change above described is not the result of mere human counsel or human effort. Let the fact be recalled that Tamafaiga was killed when the first Christian missionaries were approaching, are seen either with decent wrappers of the islands. Had he on their arrival calico, or with shirts and gowns; and been still living, it is highly probable that when they cannot afford these, they wear a very different reception would have a very decent coarse cloth of their own been given to them. As it was, the namanufacture from the bark of trees. tive teachers were for some time very The dresses on the Sabbath give a conroughly treated, and very scantily sup- gregation a very decent appearance. plied with food, and it was, more than The aid of the missionaries' wives is once, resolved by their enemies to take perpetually in requisition, in the making away their lives. Very different was up of gowns and bonnets. the state of things when the European missionaries arrived among them. They were received with open arms, and great numbers of heathen chiefs with their clans joined them in rapid succession. The rapidity with which congregations and schools have been gathered, teachers qualified, the arts of reading and writing acquired, and native habits abandoned, has more the impression of a dream than a reality. "Is it not the finger of God?" Formerly, when vessels touched, muskets and beads were the articles most in demand. Now, all the demand is for cloth, or ready-made garments, slates and pencils, and writing paper. In 1837, the master of a whaler assured the writer that he had brought forty muskets for barter, but had only sold two. The Christian missionary is familiar with privations and anxieties and trials of his faith and patience; but he has also pleasures and gratifications, of which Christianity now prevalent-Rewards of but very inadequate conceptions. Let they who have not tasted them can form the Missionary. This is not the place in which to enlarge on the general condition of the Samoan group, their scenery and their population, but it may be allowed to add a few paragraphs on these matters. Aana is not now the most populous district of Upolu, nor does it present to the eye scenery so beautiful as that of the eastern end it has, however, the subsubstantial advantage of a larger portion of land capable of cultivation, which more than compensates for the absence of the "hills peeping over hills, waterfalls and rivers of Atua." Altogether there are now perhaps nearly 20,000 on this island who have embraced Christianity. In Savail, there are from 12,000 to 13,000. On Manono, all the inhabitants, consisting of about 1000, are professedly Christians. On Tutuila, there are 6,000, and several hundreds on the smaller islands of the windward group. In 1830 there was not one known Christian. Those who are yet heathen still retaining their old dresses and their former habits, constitute not perhaps more than one-sixth of the inhabitants. The greater number now the reader imagine himself walking through these villages, just springing into life again from their ashes, and, at distances of every one or two miles, preaching "the liberty with which Christ maketh free" to listening hundreds ; let him imagine himself presenting to these villages, in succession, native teachers, able to read and teach the word of God, and to conduct public worship; let him suppose that these teachers have been raised up from among this very people, and that, on going to this new employment, they are accompanied by some of the very chiefs who so lately assisted to ruin their land. He hears the Malo chief thank God that he no longer comes for his former purposes of plunder; he hears the exclamations, "Malie! faa fetai i le Atua !" (It is well; thank God!) from the subdued party. He then tells his own tale: he is glad to find peace is restored, and that the natives wish instruction; he has brought to them a teacher of the word of God; he is answered by abundance of thanks, and is told that they were lately" like a land without water; great was their desire to drink, and now the stream is beginning to flow among them." He walks into their schools, and there sees learning to read, at the same time, the father and the child, the grandfather and the grandchild; yet strictly the whole is an infant school. One of the natives who has learned to write in his captivity, presents him with a slate, on which is accurately written the text the visitor preached from on the preceding Sabbath. He is beset by beggars, but all they ask are books, slates, pencils. Soon after the sun has set, he hears the voice of prayer and praise in all the cottages around him, and calls to mind how different it is from the noise and wickedness of the naked night dances, by which, at some village still heathen, he has not long before been deprived of sleep. Let the reader imagine himself thus received-thus employed-and then say, whether the mere comforts of staying in England are worthy to be set against such luxuries as these. Nor is this all. He acquires the language; he can converse, and preach, and write in it. These are high gratifications. Imagine his thoughts and feelings when he writes the finishing sentence of some useful elementary book, a brief history of the life of Christ, or a translation of some book or portion of sacred writ, and say, who would not wish to participate in what passes through his heart? He has contributed to the infant literature of tens of thousands, and has put it into their power to read concerning matters of the highest moment to their opening minds, the record of "the grace which bringeth salvation." The reader will pardon this digression; it was suggested by what the missionary has felt on his visits to Aana, and by the contrast between Aana in 1830 and in 1837. If pious young men-yea, even settled pastors-could form adequate conceptions of such gratifications, we should assuredly more frequently hear the willing proffer of service" Here am I, send me." Sandwich Islands. AMERICAN BOARD OF MISSIONS. 28th of May, contains a letter from the Rev. R Davidson, of Lexington, Ky., which we insert below: Mr. Editor,-I have lately seen a letter from Brother William P. Alexander, one of the Missionaries in the Sandwich Islands, which contains information that will gratify your readers. The letter is dated Waioli, Kauai, Sandwich Islands, Nov. 19, 1839, just a year from the date of one from the undersigned to which this is a reply, and which had been received by him but a few days before. It will be recollected, that as Stated Clerk, I had been directed to write to such Foreign Missionaries as were in connection with the Synod of Kentucky, upon the propriety of ordaining elders and constituting churches on the Presbyterian plan, as soon as practicable. It appears from Mr. Alexander's letter that steps had been already taken by the missionaries spontaneously. As the information suitable for the public is mixed with details about personal friends, &c., I find myself under the necessity of culling the various items and arranging them connectedly, instead of presenting the entire letter. There are at present more than 16,000 members in the churches on the islands. The Hawaijan Association of Ministers, at their annual meeting, in May, 1839, recommended, without a dissenting voice, the Presbyterian organization to the various pastors and churches; and appointed the first week in January, 1840, for organizing four Presbyteries; viz: one for the island of Kauai, another for the island of Oahu, a third for the islands of Maui and Molokai, and a fourth for the island of Hawaii. In view of this arrangement, Mr. Alexander had ordained three elders in the Waioli church, and he expected in about a month afterwards, i, e. in December last, to join in organizing the Kauai Presbytery. He subjoins that it is not to be supposed that they are all Presbyterians. There are several decided Congregationalists among them, who will not organize their churches on The Protestant and Herald, of the the Presbyterian model, nor will it be ex |