196 
The district wherein the four brethren 
had been stript and plundered, was pu- 
nished, and a petty war broke out in 
consequence. A native, who had learnt 
the use of the forge, had taken possession 
of it for Pomere; and applied the iron 
which the missionaries had carried over, 
to making lance heads, more destructive 
than their own weapons. They them- 
selves were called upon by Pomere to 
bear arms; but they had determined 
not to meddle with arms, either for 
offence or defence. The war was soon 
terminated, and the journal for a while 
becomes more interesting. 
*€ Otoo has been of fate asking brother 
Lewis to teach him the Hebrew language, 
and_has been inquisitive to know if the king 
of England is acquainted with Hebrew. 
What can have excited such an out-of-the- 
way desire, in the Otalrcitean chief, we can- 
not tell, unless the strange appearance of the 
Hebrew characters in some Hebrew book 
shewn him, caught his fancy ; however, 
as it is probably only a spark of passion, it 
will soon die away again.” 
** Otoo and Tatéoa-noce still continue 
their regal privileges of riding across the 
shoulders of their attendants ; and, however 
unseemly the custom is, and uncommon, 
to an European, yet it must be acknow- 
Jedged they sit as easy, and what is termed 
graceful, as any expert horseman can on the 
back of a horse; and although Otoo and 
"fatdoa-noce are well grown persons, yet 
their bearers carry them, when travelling, 
generally a trotting pace. The young king 
continues friendly to us. Yavva continues 
to be prepared, as related by Captain Cook, 
&c. and drank to excess by chieis and com- 
mon people. The effects it produces are 
visible, in some, from the head to the soles 
‘of their feet. The eyes of the great yavva 
drinkers are much blood-shot, sometimes 
very sore; their skin covered with a great 
thick scurf, and the soles of their feet 
ehopt or cracked ; it also subjects some of 
them to strong fits. Notwithstanding the 
tilthy manner of its.preparing, its nauseous 
smell, and reputed disagreeable taste, it is 
as much admired by Otaheitean epicures, as 
the finest wines produced in Italy or France, 
are by the most refined sensualist in Eng- 
Tand.” ’ 
« July 2d. We this morning received in- 
formation, Edéa has been delivered of a 
child; and, that according to the inhuman 
custom of the country, it is destroyed. This 
is. the second infant Edéa has murdered, 
since our residence on the island. ‘The as- 
signed reason for this abominable custom is, 
idéa is of royal bleed, the man she cohabits 
with is of menial birth, should the fruit of 
their anequal union be permitted to survive, 
the dignity of the royal family would be 
THEOLOGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS. 
considered as polluted and dishonoured ;_ to_ 
srevent which, the savage parent suffers her 
abs to be strangled as soon as it comes from 
her womb. The rest of the chiefs of the 
island, who are of the royal family, follow 
the example of their head ' so that, if an 
of them (male or female) are connected wit 
versons of inferior birth, all the offspring, 
issuing from such a connection, are massa- 
ered. As every person of inferior class is” 
left to follow his, or her inclination, to save” 
or destroy their children, the number of in- 
fants murdered is very great; it being no u 
common thing to destroy the first three 
woman has; and -if a woman has twi 
(which is often the case) it is very rare th 
both are permitted to live. Some of the Ot; 
heiteans are acquainted with the satanic art 
destroying the fetus in the womb, on 
first discovery of a conception, but this is, 
in general, attended with bad consequences 
to those who practise it.” { 
: 
¥ 
7 ? 
But now that the society was no lon- + 
ger disturbed by external danger,a great 
internal calamity befel them. Brother 
Lewis had long been suspected of b * 
sliding: he had been seen’ kissing 
heathen women, and sundry other 
seemly actions had been observed§ at_ 
length, he delivered the following letter — 
to the society : , i» 
** Brethren and Sister, 
«© After a long and great conflie 
mind, | now inform you it is my fixed deter- § 
mination to take to wife one of these natives, 
and abide faithfully towards her until death, 
thinking it the most cligible step in the 
nresent circumstances, all things considered. ~ 
ear brethren, although you may be other 
wise minded, yet I pray you to remember — 
this, that while in this tabernacie we but _ 
in part, and know but in part; many things” 
might be said on the present subject, but [7 
forbear, submitting the whole to Hi ‘ 
disposeth all events to their final en 
may the Lord order our steps, both 
and mine, to his eternal glory, and our felt ~ 
city. I hope you will return an ans 
this by the bearer. 
I remain, a 
Your's affectionately, 
Tn the bonds of the gospel, 
; THOMAS fre NISSA 
August Ist, 1798. on 
To the Rev. Mr. Jefferson. 
ot of 4 
«© Brothers Eyre, Harris, and Jeffersor 
considering the abeve letter too important 
give an hasty answer unto, declined sendin 
any. In the evening brother Lewis's lette 
was read to the socieiy, as also the 21st arth 
cle of the articles of faith, &c. drawn wp n 
board the Duff, entitled, «Of marriage ;’ which! 
article, and brother Lewis’s determination, 
| 
