THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 987 
springing from the water’s edge, these islands rise 
up from the sea in tall cliffs, or gentle slopes, while 
the towering mountains of the interior, wooded to 
their summits, pierce the clouds. “The mountains 
frequently diverge in short ranges from the interior 
towards the shore, though some rise like pyramids 
with pointed summits, and others present a conical 
or sugar-loaf form, while the outline of several 
is regular, and almost circular.” In some places 
the mountain ranges terminate in abrupt precipices 
frowning over the Pacific, that frets and foams be- 
low; in others, there is a broad belt of level land, 
of the most fertile character, and rich in the va- 
rious productions of a tropical region. To these are 
now added charms of another character. When 
visited by Cook, there was the loveliness and mag- 
nificence of Nature, but ‘that was all; man was evil; 
plunged in the grossest idolatry, emuelly, and ficen 
tiousness, he strangely contrasted with the scenes 
around him: but, now that the glad tidings of sal- 
vation through the Lord Jesus Christ have been, 
by the grace of God, made known to them, how 
incomparably is the scene enhanced! The wretched 
hut is exchanged for the neat and picturesque cot- 
tage; cultivated fields and pleasant gardens chequer 
the mountain sides; the sound of the axe and ham- 
mer has replaced the savage war-ery, and the peace- 
ful people flock to the worship of the true God, 
instead of a licentious dance before a hideous idol. 
O, how far does the moral beauty of such a change 
as this exceed the beauty of mere natural scenery, 
though it be lovely as is that of Tahiti! Captain 
