256 THE MISSIONARY STEWART. 



ill-arranged designs are inimical to their true 

 and permanent interests. 



Mr. Stewart, also a missionary, but more re- 

 cently settled here than Bengham, is a judicious 

 and well-informed man, and would remedy many 

 of the evils incident to the present state of af- 

 fairs ; but Bengham, who has usurped the abso- 

 lute control of the spiritual administration, will 

 have every thing accommodated to his whims. 

 Stewart therefore, finding himself unable to 

 follow the course prescribed by his active zeal 

 and strong understanding, for the benefit of the 

 islanders, proposes to leave the country. 



That Bengham's private views may not be 

 too easily penetrated, religion is made the cloak 

 of all his designs, and the greatest activity and 

 strictness prevail in its propagation, and in the 

 maintenance of church discipline. The inha- 

 bitants of every house or hut in Hanaruro are 

 compelled by authority to an almost endless 

 routine of prayers ; and even the often dis- 

 honest intentions of the foreign settlers must 

 be concealed under the veil of devotion. The 

 streets, formerly so full of life and animation, 

 are now deserted ; games of all kinds, even the 



