1839.] CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE. 175 



There was, indeed, little to encourage the missionary in 

 such a condition of society, and the light of civilization strug- 

 gled long before it was able to penetrate the Cimmerian dark- 

 ness which overspread the Pacific like a pall. Bat the Chris- 

 tian soldier, clad in the robes of righteousness, and brandishing 

 a weapon from the arsenal of Jehovah, fought and toiled, long 

 and manfully, till his labors were ultimately crowned with 

 success ; and, though he may have achieved less than what 

 he might once have anticipated, the good seed has been 

 planted, and he can console himself with the hope, that in 

 God's own time it will yield an abundant harvest. 



True enough, there is great room for improvement ; the 

 influence of the foreign traders, like their interests, has been 

 adverse to that of the missionaries; outbreaks and disturb- 

 ances, fomented by them, are sometimes witnessed ; and the 

 chastity of the female sex has not been proof against the 

 temptations offered to their vanity by the introduction of 

 European finery. But these things were to have been ex- 

 pected, for civilization has its vices as well as its virtues ; 

 and we need not despair, when we see wise enactments en- 

 forced, instead of ancient laws and customs, a written con- 

 stitution adopted, and order steadily rising out of chaos and 

 confusion. Though the morals described by Cook, within 

 whose sacred inclosures human sacrifices were offered up, are 

 still visible, they are pointed out by the natives only as relics 

 of a by-gone age. 



The inhabitants may be said to be constitutionally indolent. 

 The influence of the climate is decidedly enervating, although, 

 owing to their small extent, the islands have the temperature 

 of the ocean, and, on the west, are favored by the prevailing 



Its members were not prohibited from marrying, but if they had children, they 

 were obliged to put them to death. It is computed by the missionaries, that at 

 least two thirds of the children born were murdered; but though the number 

 was undoubtedly large, the correctness of this estimate is doubted, simply, perhaps, 

 for the reason, that it seems too revolting for belief. It is certain, however, that 

 the fact, that the islands are far less populous now than they were at the period 

 of their discovery, may be attributed to the prevalence of infanticide, and the 

 bloody and desolating wars. 



