TONGATABOO. 



31 



Eooa, 



200 



Hapai, 



4,000 



Vavao, 



4,000 



Keppel's, 



1,000 



Boscawen, 



1,300 



Tonga, 



8,000 



Total, 



18,500 



At present the number on Tonga is increased by about one thousand. 



About four thousand five hundred of the natives are Christians, of 

 whom two thousand five hundred are church members. 



The jurisdiction of Tui Kanakabolo, or Lord of Kanakabolo, used 

 to extend to Uea or Wallis Island, and several of the smaller islands 

 in the neighbourhood. 



This group of islands is divided into three missionary stations, viz. : 



Tongataboo, commenced in 

 Hapai, " 



Vavao, " 



1829 

 1829 

 1830 



The missionaries reside at each of these stations. The smaller 

 islands are under the care of native teachers, and are visited occa- 

 sionally by the missionaries to marry and baptize, &c. There is a 

 printing-press established at Vavao, which has been in operation since 

 1832. Many of the women can sew, and a great number of the natives 

 have learned to read and write ; a few of them have been taught the 

 rules of arithmetic, and the principles of geography. A very great 

 improvement has taken place in the morals of the Christian part of 

 the community ; but the attachment of the people to their ancient 

 usages is so strong, and the island so little visited by civilized nations, 

 that they have not had that stimulus to improvement which others 

 have derived from such advantages. 



While I bear witness to the arduous labours and well-conducted 

 operations of these missionaries, I cannot help remarking that I was 

 disappointed in finding religious intolerance existing among them. 

 It was to be expected, that among a class so devoted, and undergoing so 

 many privations, dangers, and sacrifices for the cause they are engaged 

 in, charity would not have been wanting ; and that they would have 

 extended a friendly hand to all, of whatever persuasion, who came 

 within their sphere of duty, especially those engaged in similar duties 

 with themselves; but an instance of intolerance came to my knowledge 



