62 CBUISE OF TEE ' CUEAQOA.' 



Mr. McFarland complained that the influence of the 

 missionaries was too great in the country, and expressed 

 unreservedly his desire to see it diminished. The arrival 

 of the ' Cura9oa ' was a welcome event to him, as he was 

 in a difficulty about the baptism of liis children, the mis- 

 sionaries refusing to perform this rite, because, as was 

 alleged, he Avas a member of the Church of England. But 

 why these missionaries, so eagerly baptizing the children 

 of heathens, should refuse to admit into the Christian fold 

 the children of a Christian, differing from them only in sect, 

 is unintelligible. It was not the fault of Mr. McFarland's 

 children that their parent was in this fallen state, why then 

 object any more than in the case of the offspring of the 

 heathen? The only way I am able to account for it is, 

 by supposing that Mr. McFarland wished the rite performed 

 in the language, and according to the form, of the Church 

 prayer-book, a proposition which would of course be 

 horrible to the ' dissenting ' missionaries, and therefore a 

 very unreasonable one to make. But if the fact be as 

 stated to us, the sooner these missionaries are sent about 

 their business the better it will be for the race with Avhich 

 they are in contact.^ Tlie request of this gentleman, that 

 the Commodore would permit the ceremony to take place 

 on board the ship was, of course, immediately acceded to, 

 and it was accordingly performed by the Eev. Wm. Payne, 



• As respects the Baptists, wlio do not pi-actise infant baptism, they 

 covild not possibly comply. In fact the reason given seems highly im- 

 probable. 



