228 TOBACCO. 



At Ponape, in the Caroline Islands, more than 

 half the church members, who had smoked all 

 their lives, had given it up. In other islands of 

 Micronesia, where, a few years ago, every one 

 used tobacco, at the present time, of eight hundred 

 and thirty Christians not a single one now makes 

 use of it. 



Dr. Coan states that on his arrival at the Ha- 

 waiian Islands in 1835, the missionaries were de- 

 bating the tobacco question. Some argued for 

 strong decisive measures, and others for a moder- 

 ate course, while a small number advised silence, 

 saying, — M Preach the Gospel and convert the 

 people, and let these little matters alone." But 

 unfortunately it was discovered that some of this 

 class were secret devotees of the weed, while others 

 did not scruple to take puffs from the pipes of the 

 native smokers. 



Dr. Coan continues : ff During one of my visits 

 as delegate to the Marquesas Islands, one of our 

 Hawaiian missionaries there told me that a former 

 delegate of our mission had made them trouble in 

 this way. He chewed tobacco secretly, but a keen- 

 scented Marquesan smelled his breath, and on a cer- 

 tain occasion, when the delegate walked out, this 

 savage followed him, and watched for his spitting. 

 At length it came, and fell on a rock. The savage 

 waited a little for the delegate to pass on, then 

 knelt down and smelt the rock. The secret was 

 out, and it spread like wildfire among the natives. 

 They accused our Hawaiian teacher of guile and 



