TRANSACTIONS OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
© Brothers Shelley and Wilkinson lodged 
in the spirit’s house, Beak and brother Bu- 
ehanan in a large one near the Fiatoka, 
*both of which were full of people, who were 
most clamorous during the whole of the 
night, in their addresses to their false gods ; 
‘in the morning, the enemy was expected to 
land, and Maffee ordered Beak and brother 
Buchanan, to the spirit’s house, where they 
‘found the other brethren, and a number of 
“women and children, belonging to the chiefs ; 
‘they continued here for some time, during 
which many offerings of kavva were brought 
‘to Ladoo, and Tallecitoobo, two of their 
deities, to whom the place seemed to be sa- 
‘cred’; among others, Matlee came upon the 
same business, who seriously advised us to 
‘remain where we were, as Ladoo would cer- 
‘tainly protect us from every harm: these 
things réised in our minds some scruples 
concerning the propriety of our conduct, in 
‘seeking shelter in such a place, which we 
‘were sure was a refuge of lies, we therefore 
‘determined to quit it at all events, and cast 
~ourselyes upon the care of our all-sufficient 
‘God, whom we knew could not fail us ; we 
‘accordingly left it in the former part of the 
day, and returned to our abodes.* 
r 
_ If the religion of these islanders had 
been all with which the missionaries 
‘were to contend, their victory would 
‘have been easy. Savages are never te- 
“nacidus of their faith: they care little 
‘for the religion of their fathers, because 
’ heir knowledge of their forefathers is 
bounded by the memory of man. The 
whole object of their ceremonies is to 
‘deprecate the anger of the gods; they 
know nothing of them but their power, 
and feel for them only fear. But when 
‘they become acquainted with a nation 
“more advanced than themselves, whose 
artsare more efficient, whose weapons are 
“more destructive than their own ; as they 
yerceive their own inferiority, so do they 
Iso acknowledge the strangers gods 
be mightier than theirs; and the 
error which they felt towards their 
idols is soon converted into contempt 
‘and indignation. Thus it was that the 
tons of Peru and Mexico disappear- 
, and that the work of conversion has 
er-been so easy among the Pagan 
ricans. Force is even less effectual 
than intellect in such a conquest: the 
- Roman empire was destroyed by idola- 
rs; but the conquerors submitted to the 
ligion of a people, whom they knew 
‘to be wiser than themselves. * 
' The people of Australasia and Poly- 
‘nesia are all in that state of ignorance, 
credulity, and acknowledged inferiority, 
_which best predisposes them to receive a 
iY; 
~ Awn. Rev. Vou. L., 
193 
new religion, Let us now examine the 
proceedings of this Methodistic mission. 
The day after the Duff had departed 
from Otaheite, Edea, the king’s mother, 
and the chiefs, were overheard talking of 
the property which the missionaries pos- 
sessed, and the propriety of taking it 
from them. ‘fhey put themselves in a 
state of defence, ordered the natives to 
withdraw from their dwelling, and re- 
monstrated with Edea, who denied the 
charge, and thus a good understanding 
was re-established. ‘The journal. pro- 
ceeds with their prayers and preagh- 
ments, and monthly prayer-meetings, 
and experience meetings, which are no- 
ted down as regularly as if they suspect 
ed that the recording angel might not 
give them credit for the full amount, 
and therefore kept a check account of 
their own. 
«¢ We have formed an hospital near our 
house, for the reception of any’sick natives 
that will come, as many of them lie languish- 
ing under the venereal disease ;. a few have 
come, but the generality of the poor souls 
seem afraid, or are insensible*of our good- 
will towards them ; some have even expect- 
ed a present before they would take any 
thing, and every thing must be sweet, or they 
think it is not good ; and they expect to be 
cured in three or four days. Oh! may the 
Lord make us honoured instrumenis of 
bringing their souls to Jesus Christ the great 
physician.” 
“ August 23d. Early this morning, dis- 
covered an entrance made into the smith’s 
shop, and a number of smail, bat valuable 
articles, stolen. The manner of this robbery 
was somewhat curious, and shews the arti- 
fice and cunning of the thief. It is suppos- 
ed, the man was destitute of a knife, with 
which he might have cut the lashings of the 
sticks that coniposed the walls, as it were, of 
the shop; and, by so doing, have entered 
with ten-fold less trouble as.well as time ; 
but instead thereof, he digged out the sand, 
apparenuy with his hands. (the common 
spade of the natives), and made a hoie large 
enough to adinit himself through, with the 
articles he had stolen, under the ends of the 
sticks, which were not less than two feet 
deep im the ground. ‘This mast have-taken 
him some time to compleat, and he must 
have been under continual apprehensions of 
being detected by the watch, who was walk- 
ing round the house, and must have passed 
him at the time: ‘Once the watch’s atten- 
tion was attracted towards the place where 
the man was at his work; but he had so 
coiled himself up, iathe hole he had digged, 
that the watch took him for a hog, ie left 
him unmolested. Pitea, the deputy chief of 
the district, being-applied toon, the occasion, 
