310 NEW ZEALAND. [CHAP. JtVtli. 



white with flour, like his brother miller in England. When I looked at 

 his whole scene, I thought it admirable. It was not merely that 

 England was brought vividly before my mind ; yet, as the evening drew 

 to a close, the domestic sounds, the fields of corn, the distant undulating 

 country with its trees might well have been mistaken for our father- 

 land: nor was it the triumphant feeling at seeing what Englishmen 

 could effect ; but rather the high hopes thus inspired for the future 

 progress of this fine island. 



Several young men, redeemed by the missionaries from slavery, were 

 employed on the farm. They were dressed in a shirt, jacket, and 

 trousers, and had a respectable appearance. Judging from one trifling 

 anecdote, I should think they must be honest. When walking in the 

 fields, a young labourer came up to Mr. Davies, and gave him a knife 

 and gimlet, saying that he had found them on the road, and did not 

 know to whom they belonged ! These young men and boys appeared 

 very merry and good-humoured. In the evening I saw a party of them 

 at cricket : when I thought of the austerity of which the missionaries 

 have been accused, I was amused by observing one of their own sons 

 taking an active part in the game. A more decided and pleasing 

 change was manifested in the young women, who acted as servants 

 within the houses. Their clean, tidy, and healthy appearance, like 

 that of dairy-maids in England, formed a wonderful contrast with 

 the women of the filthy hovels in Kororadika. The wives of the 

 missionaries tried to persuade them not to be tattooed ; but a famous 

 operator having arrived from the south, they said, "We really must 

 just have a few lines on our lips ; else when we grow old, our lips will 

 shrivel, and we shall be so very ugly." There is not nearly so much 

 tattooing as formerly; but as it is a badge of distinction between the 

 chief and the slave, it will probably long be practised. So soon does 

 any train of ideas become habitual, that the missionaries told me that 

 even in their eyes a plain face looked mean, and not like that of a New 

 Zealand gentleman. 



Late in the evening I went to Mr. Williams's house, where I passed 

 the night. I found there a large party of children, collected together 

 for Christmas-day, and all sitting round a table at tea. I never saw a 

 nicer or more merry group ; and to think that this was in the centre of 

 the land of cannibalism, murder, and all atrocious crimes ! The 

 cordiality and happiness so plainly pictured in the faces of the little 

 circle, appeared equally felt by the older persons of the mission. 

 ' December 24^. In the morning prayers were read in the native 

 tongue to the whole family. After breakfast I rambled about the 

 gardens and farm. This was a market-day, when the natives of the 

 surrounding hamlets bring their potatoes, Indian corn, or pigs, to 

 exchange for blankets, tobacco, and sometimes, through the persuasions 

 of the missionaries, for soap. Mr. Davies's eldest son, who manages 

 a farm of his own, is the man of business in the market. The children 

 of the missionaries, who came while young to the island, understand 

 the language better than their parents, and can get anything more 

 leadil'y done by the natives. 



