CONVERSION OF HIRO. 
9 
cruel; and we rejoice in having been honoured of 
God to communicate the gospel, as the servants 
of Him who— 
-“ from thick films shall purge the visual ray, 
And on the sightless eye-ball pour the day.” 
It is a pleasing fact, that in the South Sea 
Islands, a number of blind persons have not only 
had their understandings enlightened by the per¬ 
ceptive parts of scripture truth, but that to many 
it has proved “ the light of life,’’ more valuable 
than natural light, as the soul is more precious 
than the body, and eternity more important than 
time. Some have died, and we have reason to 
believe have entered those realms of day, where 
night and darkness are unknown. 
One remarkable instance occurred during the 
year in which I left the islands. The native name 
of the individual to w T hom I allude was Hiro. He 
was the priest of one of the principal temples of 
Parea, in the lesser peninsula of the island, or 
Huahine iti. He was a priest of Hiro, the god 
of plunderers and thieves, and, in perfect accord¬ 
ance with the spirit of his office, was the captain 
or leader of a band of robbers, who spread terror 
through the surrounding country. He was one of 
the first and most determined opposers of Chris¬ 
tianity in Huahine; reproaching its adherents* 
defying the power, and disclaiming the authority, 
of its Author. But, like Saul of Tarsus, he found 
it hard to resist. 
He was in the prime and vigour of manhood, 
being at the time between thirty and forty years of 
age. When the number of Christians increased in 
his neighbourhood, and the Sabbath-day was first 
publicly observed, in order to shew his utter con¬ 
tempt of Christian institutions, he determined to 
