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1279 



Christianity into the Group was ina.de in the year 1790, about twenty years after Captain 

 Cook's last visit. Ten missionaries and mechanics were landed from the London Missionary 

 Society's ship Dnjf in that year. In April, 1/99, the Tuikanokuboht was murdered, and 

 war ensued, in which three of the missionaries Messrs. Harper. Powell and Gaulton and 

 an Englishman who lived with them were killed. The survivors, with one exception, 

 were removed to Sydney in the year 1800. The Rev. Walter Lawry, of the Wesleyan 

 Missionary Society, arrived at Tongatabu in August, 1822, but was obliged to leave on 

 account of domestic circumstances at the end of 1823. The Rev. John Thomas and 

 John Hutchinson, of the same Society, landed 

 in Tonga in June, 1826. The Rev. Nathaniel 

 Turner, the Rev. \Y. Cross and Mr. Weiss, 

 also of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, 

 arrived at Nukualofa in 1827, and found 

 two Tahitan teachers employed in that 

 locality. The Catholic missionaries have 

 also been labouring in the Group since 

 1842. The Tongans have for many years 

 been a professing Christian people. They 

 have a comparatively large literature sup- 

 plied by the missionaries. The educational 

 work is now under the direct charge of 

 the Government, and all children and young 

 people are compelled to attend school. The 

 Government and the Wesleyan Mission have 

 each a training college for the higher educa- 

 tion of their agents. In the year 1873, the King granted to the people a Constitution 

 which is based on that of Great Britain. This Constitution abrogates the arbitrary 

 power, of the chiefs, gives equal rights to all, and secures freedom of worship and 

 liberty of conscience to all His Majesty's subjects. Treaties have been entered into 

 with Great Britain, Germany, and the United States, and coaling stations have been 

 granted to these Powers in the fine harbour of Vavau, which lies almost in the direct 

 line of traffic between Australia and America, 



The people may be classed as Eastern Polynesians, and belong to the same race 



t 



as the Maoris, Samoans, and other kindred people. The present population of the 

 Group is about twenty-two thousand. Nukualofa is the capital and seat of Government. 

 The total number of foreign residents in the Group is about four hundred and thirty. 

 The principal buildings in Nukualofa are the King's Palace, the Chapel Royal, the Govern- 

 ment Offices, and the Wesleyan, FYee Church and Catholic Churches. There is a good 

 wharf built by the Government, at which steamers and vessels may be safely berthed 

 whilst discharging and loading cargo. The North German Lloyd's fine steamer Lnbcck 

 calls at Nukualofa every month. Messrs. Donald and Eclinborough's steamer Richmond runs 

 regularly from Auckland to Tahiti, and makes Tonga the first and last port of call. 

 The Union Company's steamer Wainni also runs every month to Tonga, Haabai and 

 Vavau, connecting with the Company's boats at New Zealand for Australia. 



THE . MISSION CHURCH AT NUKUAI.nl A. 



