bility from the fatigues of a war just terminated; for which happy event the Missionaries celebrated a public thanksgiving; and in the evening, one of them went on board the vessel, to exhort their countrymen on the occasion. The war had been commenced by the Attahoorians, from whom, on a great religious solemnity, Otoo had forcibly carried away their god. Otoo was defeated by them, and he and Pomarre giving up all for lost, would have fled from the island, had not the Missionaries prevailed with them to remain. The victorious Attahoorians committed horrible cruelties on all who fell in their way, and ravaged the territories of their enemies, but were afraid to extend their attack to Matavai and the Missionaries. Happily for Pomarre, the crew of the Norfolk, and other European residents in the island, in number about thirty, and all accustomed to the use of fire-arms, espoused his cause in this extremity. The Missionaries had explicitly told them, at an early period of their settlement, that they should take no part in their wars. With his acquisition of Europeans, Pomarre now retaliated the cruelties of the Attahoorians on their persons; at length a peace was concluded between the parties, the Attahoorians keeping possession of their idol as before.

Mr. Turnbull sailed to Ulietea on a trading voyage; there the chiefs professed great kindness for him, and he loaded them with presents. On the evening previous to his proposed departure, four of his seamen deserted, and he went on shore at two in the morning to request the king to use

my

his authority to have the people restored. "I counted," says Mr. Turnbull, “ on his gratitude for our innumerable presents, and his apparent friendship, and had no doubt of the success of embassy. In this, however, I found myself to have much mistaken the character of the Ulieteans, who of all virtues, have the least claim to that of gratitude; such is the famed virtue of savages. Why will theory thus fatigue itself to raise speculations, which the experience of a moment must demolish ?"

Mr. Turubull was glad to get on board again. He was roused by the captain in the night, with intelligence that both cables were cut by the natives, with a view to the wreck of the ship, and the destruction of the crew. A most desperate and critical conflict ensued; and after a hard battle, and much labour in replacing their anchors, they, almost miraculously, escaped. The fury of their assaults, and the horrible tortures with which the Ulieteans threatened to put the seamen to death, when in their power, placed the latter in a most terrifying situation. It pleased God to send a change of wind on the night after the battle, and silently, yet actively, they towed out the vessel beyond the reach of musketry. "Notwithstanding all our difficulties," says Mr. Turnbull, "by the blessing of Providence on our strenuous exertions, we succeeded in getting some sail set, before our motions were discovered by the natives on shore. The wretches seeing the ship under sail, hailed us with a most hideous and savage howling, mingled with mutual reproaches and upbraidings for not keeping a better

look-out, as the ship would now be for ever lost to them. We now learned the truth of what we had before often heard from others, that the fury of savages in battle is incredible, and bears no resemblance to that of a civilized being under the same circumstances. They forcibly recal to mind the fables of heathen mythology; they appear possessed; a fury more than human seems to flare in their eyes, and convulse their souls. But I will not attempt to describe what no words can convey; I will only observe, that if their courage and talent of mischief were equal to their fury, they would be invincible."

Mr. Turnbull also visited Owyhee. He speaks highly of Tamahama as a great warrior, politician, and acute trader. His dominion is completely established. He has a navy; employs European and American artificers; and lives in a palace built after the European manner, of brick, and having glazed windows. The natives of the Sandwich Islands, are in every respect much more ingenious, and much further advanced in the knowledge of the useful arts of life, than those of Otaheite. The Sandwich Islanders in the dominions of Tamahama frequently make voyages to the North-west coast of America. Several of them have made considerable progress in the English language; their intercourse with the Anglo-Americans, and the navigators of Britain, having given them the opportunity, of which they have so eagerly availed themselves. They are much more industrious than the Otaheitans. Both sexes are strong, hardy, and

capable of enduring great fatigue. Mr. Turnbull offers the following hint, as he terms it, to the Missionary Society: "They might perhaps find it answer their purposes to turn their attention to that quarter, where, in my humble opinion, their benevolent efforts are more likely to prove successful than at Otaheite. Indeed, from certain events that took place on their being discovered, and particularly from the lamented fate of the great Cook, the Sandwich Islanders have generally been regarded as a race of savage barbarians.

"The truth, however, is, that many of the horrible practices of the Otaheitans, such as infant murder, &c. are unknown amongst them; and the fatal accident which befel Cook, is to this day deeply and generally deplored by them.

"Should the Missionary Society adopt this hint, and make the experiment, I have no doubt that land might be easily procured as a grant, or as a purchase. Tamahama is perfectly acquainted with the nature of a bargain, in the European sense of the term, and would conform rigidly to the conditions; differing in this, as well as in many other respects, from certain chiefs in Otaheite. latter are constantly endeavouring to extort fresh remuneration from the Missionaries there, whom they seem to regard only as strangers suffered to remain amongst them during their good pleasure. Owyhee may be seen, in fine weather, at the distance of forty leagues out at sea; containing two very lofty mountains, Mouna Roa, and Mouna

The

Kaa, whose summits are generally enveloped in clouds and vapours.

"The Americans in particular carry on a most active trade with these islands, supplying them with property at an easy rate in exchange for provisions; aud unless I am deceived, will do more than any others to exalt it to a singular degree of civilization. The reader will here pardon me for introducing this remark on American commerce; so far does it exceed all former efforts of former nations, that even the Dutch themselves sink under the comparison. Scarcely is there a part of the world, scarcely an inlet in these most unknown seas, in which this commercial hive has not penetrated. The East Indies is open to them, and their flags are displayed in the seas of China. And it must be confessed, to their honour, that their success is well merited by their industry."

On Mr. Turnbull's return to Otaheite, he sent the ship to some of the windward islands, and remained himself at Otaheite. Here he had a full opportunity of observing the manners of the people. He attempted to employ them as boatmen, under the superintendence of an European, but the fatigue of the oars soon sickened them. It was ludicrous to see their yawns and grimaces upon these occasions; they would exhibit their blistered hands, and exclaim most dolefully, Owhow, Owhow, not good, not good. He says, "The superstitions, extravagances, and religious observances, of this people, are beyond all description ridiculous; they seem to have no analogy either in