ing the state of destitution in which just seen the king, he about the sam ceived from Canton no less than four garments of various descriptions. chiefs are dressed in complete suits articles, their appearance is greatly --but they sometimes omit a part of or have the different articles so sadly as to create a ludicrous effect. Wh stance, could repress a smile, on seei silk or satin suit, accompanied with a nel shirt, a striped woollen cap, and and stocking? And would not a f large size, clad in a thin muslin dr out stockings, and with heavy w shoes, attract notice-especially sh attend church, with a large can hand, and an enormous French hat head?

It may be proper to state in clo letter, that these people are acquirin bits of civilized life, just in proporti enjoy the instructions and examp missionaries. Around each of the n stations, great changes have taken the character and habits of the nativ long time must elapse, and great eff be made, before every son and day these distant isles shall be reclaimed bondage of sin and ignorance. W ing in God, and waiting patiently fo rious a result, let us not forget to be

MY DEAR L.-Distressing as are the real ills and privations endured by the inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands, they are light, in comparison with the weight of superstition and idolatry, under which they have hitherto groaned. The fear of implacable spirits, that most distressing species of superstition, which exists only in minds darkened by extreme ignorance, over this people bears absolute sway. Whatever striking changes take place in the heavens, or on the earth, are viewed as manifestations of the displeasure of their gods. Every disaster they suffer from the storm, lightning, earthquake or volcano, is a punishment inflicted by those dreaded beings, who are as numerous, and as various, as the events which indicate their presence. They hear a demon in the whistling of the wind, the moving of a leaf, or the dripping of water from the rocks in the stillness of night-they see a phantom in every luminous vapour that floats in the atmosphere, and give life and action to every object indistinctly seen in the shades of evening. On such occasions every mind is filled with consternation, and many may be

ing in faltering accents 66 it is

plaintive notes of an Eolian harp," sa Stewart, "fixed in a window of a house, at Oahu, had such an effect mind of an islander belonging to th blishment, although the cause of the had been explained to him, that it was sary to remove the instrument, beca could not sleep!"

As a farther illustration of these ren will state a fact which is given on the rity of the missionaries. A chief of co able rank, having died some time sin mediately after an eclipse of the mo natives considered that event as having his death. Of course a repetition of phenomenon would fill their minds w prehensions of coming evil. On the June, 1824, there happened an eclipse was nearly total. It was a fine eveni the missionaries having just retired were disturbed by the hurried steps of tives, running to and fro, and filling with loud lamentations and wailings. was made as to the cause of this und commotion, and it was answered, tha people thought the king was dead, the moon was dark." When the missi went out, they heard nothing but excla uttered in tones of deep agony-" th is sick, very sick,"-"an evil moon, deed,"-" the gods are eating the All seemed to consider this wonderful