256 THE MISSIONARY STEWART. 



ill-arranged designs are inimical to their true r 

 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 BenghanVs 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 



