FOR THE lord’s DAY. 217 
Another instance shall be adduced of the ob- 
servance of the Sabbath, occurring at a distant 
part of the island ; to which the Rev. W, Williams 
and myself went, on an exploratory visit, at the 
commencement of the year 1834. — On the morn- 
ing of January 12th, we assembled the natives of 
the place, for the services of the Sabbath. The 
whole city came together, and, with smiling faces, 
sat down, old and young, high and low, rich and 
poor, bond and free, indiscriminately, to hear the 
words of eternal life, I read the Liturgy ; and 
Mr. Williams delivered a short address: the people 
were arranged in a square, and, for so very large 
a number, behaved remarkably well. They pre- 
sented a most grotesque and savage appearance : 
some were perched on the tops of the houses ; 
others stretched at full length on the ground ; 
others again seated with a child on each knee, 
and one upon the back — but all attentive to what 
was passing. The old men were dressed in their 
best ; and the young ones were, for the most part. 
raging with great fury up the side of a mountain. The night 
was particularly dark ; a brisk breeze was blowing from the 
south-east, right up the valley. The whole atmosphere was 
lighted, and warmed for a long way round. I almost fancied 
I could feel the influence of the flames where I was standing, 
which was at least three miles from the place where the flames 
were raging. The natives do much mischief by carelessly 
throwing burning sticks upon beds of dry fern, which ignite 
like touch-paper, and set the whole country in a blaze. Houses? 
cultivations, wood#, &c., are thus not unfrequently destroyed ; 
and every thing, which at sun-set wore an appearance of cheer- 
fulness and beauty, in the morning presents nothing but bar- 
renness, desolation, and misery. 
