NOTICES OF TAHITI AND EIMEO.

BY THE HON. CAPTAIN WALDEGRAVE, R. N.

IN December, 1829, his Majesty's frigate the Seringapatam, whilst at Rio Janeiro in the Brazils, received orders from RearAdmiral Sir Thomas Baker to visit the Society and Friendly Islands in the Pacific ocean, with directions to observe the state of society, the habits of the people, and the probability of establishing any trade between Great Britain and these islands. As the Officer entrusted with this command was unacquainted with the language of these islands, it was natural that he should have recourse for information to the Europeans resident in the islands. These residents in the Society Islands consisted of European and American outcasts, of one respectable European merchant, and the Missionaries from the London Missionary Society. To the latter, the commanding officer is indebted for a great portion of the information obtained, as they, from their station, their sacred character, and the general estimation and respect in which they were held, were the best authorities both for the past and for the present.

These islands have been so repeatedly visited during the last twenty years, that little new can be said; the history, state of society, and the natural features of the islands, are most faithfully given in Ellis's Polynesian Researches. Since he wrote, Captain Lawes in H. M. S. Satellite, Captain Gambier in the Dauntless, Captain Beachey in the Blossom, Captain Sandiland in the Comet,-have each visited them. Therefore the observations which follow are merely extracts from a journal kept by me for my own information, written at the time, and are

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the remarks which would present themselves to any one desiring information on the spot.

And here it is but just for me to express my admiration of the exemplary conduct of the Missionaries: placed in a situation of great difficulty, they have steered through political convulsion with unspotted character; they have frequently been called in as advisers, but they have never taken part on either side; remembering their sacred office, they have counselled from the Bible, seeking not their own exaltation, but the glory of Him who is higher than the highest.

April 12, 1830, I sailed over to the island of Eimeo, accompanied by Mr. Heather and the Rev. G. Pritchard: we landed at Papetoai, and were hospitably received by the Rev. Mr. Simpson, missionary at Eimeo. Here we found the Rev. Mr. Nott, and Mr. Armitage, missionary artisan. I cannot but express the pleasure I felt on seeing for the first time that valuable and excellent servant of Christ, Mr. Nott: he was suffering under the elephantiasis, which had diminished his bodily activity, but had not impaired his mental vigour; his conversation shewed that his intellect was still possessed of all its natural strength, and still unreservedly consecrated to the great object of his existence.

April 13. At half past six, A.M. I attended divine service in the Coral Stone Chapel at Papetoai, where Mr. Nott addressed a congregation which, notwithstanding the earliness of the hour, consisted of one hundred persons. Wherever we went, we found that the same custom was observed by the Missionaries: after rising in the morning, every one assembles in the large room; a hymn is sung; a chapter of the Bible is read; and the whole concludes with prayer: before and after meals, too, grace is always said; and the day closes, as it was begun, with prayer: the whole being performed in the native language.

April 14. We left Papetoai, steering northward. On the north-west point of Eimeo is a most extensive grove of ironwood trees; some of which appeared to be ninety feet high Between this and the south-west point is a large marai in ruins. The walls have been thrown down and neglected, and trees grow in the spot where but lately human victims were offered; indeed, so entirely is paganism overthrown, that the natives did not hesitate to climb over these unhallowed walls with as little respect as we did.

After rounding the south-west point, we steered to the eastward, and at sunset arrived at Afareaitu; where we were most hospitably received at the South Sea Academy by the Rev. J. M. Orsmond. This institution is intended for the children of the Missionaries. As it was vacation time, we did not see any of the pupils, but we heard that sixteen had attended during the last school-time. Still it is to be regretted that there is no arrangement for sending the children either to England or to New South Wales, as they are so liable to be contaminated by the pernicious habits and conversation of the natives. At this place there is also a school-house, a chapel, and a manufacture of cotton cloth; the last of which is under the direction of Mr. Armitage; some good specimens of carpenters' and joiners' work were also shewn to me.

On April 15th I returned to my ship, and left it again on the 16th of April, on a tour coastwise round the island of Tahiti, rowing to the westward, we arrived at sunset at Bunaania: passing the Sunday at the house of the Rev. D. Darling. At morning service the chapel was attended by two hundred and fifty or three hundred natives; at the evening service, the congregation was not so numerous; between the services, forty children were examined in the chapel by the Missionary, in the short Catechism, Lord's prayer, and Creed; they repeated one chapter from the Gospel of St. John, and another from Saint Matthew; four men also repeated parts of a chapter in the