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tempt it. But Kapiolani was resolved to show her contempt of the pretended power of Pele, by descending into the terrible place. Her attendants thought she would be destroyed, but her reply was, "If I am destroyed, then you may all believe in Pele; but if I am not, then you may all turn to the Palapala." When near the crater, a man, whose duty it was to feed Pele, by throwing berries and other things into the volcano, intreated her to proceed no farther. "And what," said she," will be the harm?" The man replied, you will die by Pele." She answered, "I shall not die by your God; that fire was kindled by my God." The man was silent, and she went onward, descended the crater several hundred feet, and there united with her åttendants in prayer to Jehovah, the almighty ruler of the elements. She also, in violation of immemorial superstitions and usages, ate the berries consecrated to Pele, and threw stones into the crater. From that time, the people in the neighbourhood, seeing that she was not injured, pronounced Pele to be destitute of power.

In the year 1825, Kapiolani made a profession of religion, and in the latter part of 1826, was thus noticed by Mr. Ely. "She is, indeed, a mother in Israel.

No woman

in the Islands, probably, appears better than she; and, perhaps, there is no one who has

R

so wholly given herself up to the influence and obedience of the Gospel. I am never at a loss where to find her in any difficulty; she has a steady, firm, decided attachment to the Gospel, and a ready adherence to its precepts marks her conduct. Her house is fitted up in a very decent style, and is kept neat and comfortable; and her hands are daily employed in some useful work.”

Another instance of marvellous grace bestowed upon the islanders, is the case of a poor blind man, whom the missionaries loved to call "blind Bartimeus." His Christian character is beautifully drawn by Mr. Stewart. "There is, perhaps, no one in the nation, who has given more uninterrupted and decisive proofs of a saving knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, than Puiti, a poor blind man. No one has manifested more childlike simplicity and meekness of heart-no one appeared more uniformly humble, devout, pure, and upright.

As a singer, he formerly occupied in the retinue of a high chief, the place of "the blind bard," in the Baronial Hall. When the "setters forth of strange Gods" arrived, and began to preach in the language of the country, he requested to be led to the chapel; and ever after, with the return of the Sabbath, groped his way to the house of God. He soon became deeply interested in the glad tidings which proclaimed sight

to the blind; relinquished his situation as. musician; and from the most indefatigable inquiry and attention, quickly made himself so familiarly acquainted with the outlines of Christian belief and practice, as to become an instructer and chaplain to others. Only a few weeks before the Thames reached the Islands, Keoua, governor of Lahaina, then on a visit to Oahu, appointed him his private chaplain, and brought him to Maui with him in that capacity. He was the first to welcome us on our unexpected arrival here, as we stepped upon the beach; and testified his joy by the most cordial shaking of our hands, and bursting afresh every few minutes into the exclamation-"great indeed-very great is my love.

He is always at the house of God. If he happens to be approaching our habitations at the time of family worship, which has been very frequently the case, the first note of praise or word of prayer that meets his ear, produces an immediate and most observable change in his whole aspect. An impression of deep devotion at once overspreads his sightless countenance, while he hastens to prostrate himself in some corner in an attitude of reverence. Indeed, so peculiar has the expression of his countenance sometimes been, both in public and domestic worship-especially when he has been join

.ing in a hymn in his own language to the praise of the only true God and Saviour -an expression so indicative of peace and elevated enjoyment, that tears have involuntarily started in our eyes at the persuasion that, ignorant and degraded as he once had been, he was then offering the sacrifice of a contrite heart, and was experiencing a rich foretaste of that joy which, in the world to come, shall terminate in "pleasures for ever more."

He is poor and despised in his person, small almost to deformity, and in his countenance, from the loss of his sight, far from prepossessing; still, in our judgment, he bears on him "the image and superscription" of Christ. If so, how striking an example of the truth of the Apostle's declaration: "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen; yea, things which are not, to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence.

Such are the first fruits of Christianity among these once heathen islanders!

I shall hereafter write to you on the influence which religion has exerted upon their intellectual habits, as well as upon their natural character and prospects. But

I cannot refrain from noticing at present, the disingenuous and ignorant declamation of those who have called it an idle scheme of philanthropy," to try to christianize the heathen. Do they know what has been done at the Sandwich Islands? If not, let them learn it; if they do, then let them cease to pronounce judgments, which, they must be sensible, can never bear the test of close examination.

Yours,

E. E.

MY DEAR L.

It seems necessary that I should assign some reason, for delaying so long, a consideration of the climate, soil, scenery, and productions of the Sandwich Islands. Though their natural situation could not be altered in any important respects, yet their productions have been varied, and will be undoubtedly still more varied by the progress of civilization. The object I now have in view, will lead me to speak particularly of the capabilities of the Islands. It was impossible that a people so ignorant, so indolent, and so degraded as were these islanders, should cultivate the soil to the best advantage, or even know what it was best capable of producing. It is my design at present, to