REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. BEFORE We opened this pamphlet, we had long entertained an opinion that missions to the South-Sea islands were, in the present state of the world, efforts somewhat misdirected of a zeal truly Christian. It had occurred to us, that, while extensive and popu-1 lous continents, where life and property are to a considerable extent protected by law, remain destitute of the light of the Gospel, those continents are the field; which every consideration points out as the proper field of missionary exertions. While myriads in Africa and Ame rica, and millions in various parts of Asia, continue still ignorant of the glad tidings of great joy," why should the resources and la-" bours of Christians be consumed in missions to a few scattered islands? While missionary societies find the utmost difficulty in providing and supporting men fit and able to preach the Gospel to our own subjects in India, and elsewhere, why should that difficulty be increased by sending missionaries to the unknown in-. habitants of Tongataboo? The labourers are too few to cultivate the soil, and gather in the harvest, in those countries which Providence has placed under our special protection, and within our reach; why should they be sent into less favourable situations? Every convert among the Hindoos may contribute to the conversion of many others; and if a number of Hindoos, equal to the population of the S. Sea islands, were brought to a cordial reception of the Gospel, the progress of Christianity, not in the Peninsula only, but throughout the continent of Asia, would, in all probability, be irresistibly rapid. But, on the other hand, if all the South-Sea islands were evangelized, the benefit would extend no further. These reflections returned upou us with additional force, as we read the Narrative now before us; and were confirmed by other arguments, which the event of the mission to Tongataboo suggested to the mind of the author. Missionaries, who attempt to spread the Gospel among savage nations, where no laws afford them protection, are exposed, not to the perils only of "persecution for righteousness' sake," but also to the danger of being murdered for the sake of plunder, and to temptations beyond those which they would have to encounter in countries where civilization has made some progress. It is scarcely to be expected that they should escape this danger, and resist these temptations, till they have made such proficiency in the language, and inspired such regard and confidence into the minds of the natives, as may enable them to make a deep and permanent impression on their hearts. We find, in fact, from the Narrative, that, before the missionaries who took up their station in Tongataboo had made any progress in bringing the inhabitants to a reception of the Gospel, three of them fell by the bands of the natives; and the others would, in all probability, have shared the same fate, had they not effected their escape from the island. It is, however, satisfactory to be assured, by the author of the Narrative, “who has occasion to condemn himself, and who remained at Tongataboo after all the brethren left it, that no other of the missionaries whom he accompanied thither, acted unbe coming their sacred character." p. 115. From the Narrative therefore, this inference arises; that, while selection continues to be necessary, those countries should rather be selected for missionary exertions, where life and property are protected by a regular government, than those, where they depend on the caprice of lawless savages. The publication under review appears to have been composed in a manner somewhat singular. We do not understand why it was not, written by the missionary, from whose account of the transactions it is derived: it purports to have been omposed by a clergyman, who asures us, in the Preface, that" every rcumstance was taken down in hort-hand from the mouth of the, thor, and afterwards repeatedly evised in concurrence with him:" nd the composer uses the first erson, as if the missionary himself ere speaking. The missionaries, in number wenty-nine, sailed from Portsmouth the 23d of Sept. 1796, in the uff, commanded by Captain Wilon, who seems to have been judiSously selected for the purpose. le is described as "an excellent, Hous man," who behaved to them with the greatest affability and indness throughout the voyage." At Rio Janeiro the missionaries had opportunity of noticing the brualizing effect of the West-India ystem of slavery on the minds of hose engaged in it. One day, we were walking, we observed a poor old Negro, dragging along his Worn-out limbs, and groaning under a heavy load. His back seemed alMost broken: he could scarcely crawl along: at length he called out for help, and sank under his burden. We pitied him, and said to the in'What a sad spectacle is poor man! let us go and help him: but he replied, with the most unfeeling taunt and a profane oath, He is not worth two-pence."" There is not, perhaps, among the occurrences of this life, a more convincing and awful proof of the moral government of God, than the inva terpreter, this! riable tendency of habitual sin to increase the natural corruption of the human heart; to steel it against the remorse of conscience; to efface any faint traces which it may still retain of the divine image after which it was originally created; and to reduce it even below the level of the brutes that perish. As the Duff approached the la titude of the Cape of Good Hope, it was overtaken by a tremendous gale of wind. The "mountainous billows," says the author of the Narrative, "rolled so regularly, in succession after each other, that in the gulph betwixt each wave, the water was as smooth as in a river. In this state, we were driven by billow after billow, now sinking into the gulph, and anon, rising to the topmost ridge of the waves, for some days." p. 38. The following account of the danger to which a ship is exposed in such a gale of wind, we extract, as being new, if not also scientifically correct. Notwithstanding the terrors of the gale, we were ignorant of our danger. When it had ceased, the captain informed us of it. The ship, when raised by the different billows that followed her, was for a moment balanced in the centre on every wave. therefore the Duff had not been very strong, she would have been broken to pieces; because, in surmounting the lofty waves, the whole weight of the vessel and cargo rested, although but for a moment, on her centre. Again, when we sunk into the deep channel betwixt sea and sea, the swell was so high, that, though the sails were very lofty, we were completely becalmed, as the wind could not reach us; and then, as the ship was raised by the following wave, the wind was so violent as almost to carry away the masts.” p. 38, 39. If Otaheite was the first place of destination, where some of the missionaries were to be landed. On the arrival of the ship at Matavai Bay, in this island, the captain and some of the missionaries went on shore, "Among the company, gataboo, one of the Friendly Islands. awaiting their landing, was Otoo, "This name is properly two words, the king of Otaheite, and Tetua, Tonga-Taboo, signifying Sacred Is the queen, though little distinguish land; Duatonga, the priest of that ed from the rest, except as they were island, being reverenced and resortIcarried on the shoulders of young ed to by the inhabitants of all the men selected for that purpose." surrounding islands."-At Tonga "The strangers were welcomed to taboo the missionaries found twa the island with every demonstration Europeans, who were dressed like of joy, and conducted along a nu- the natives, and imitated them in merous procession, till they arrived all their profligacy and brutality. at a spacious habitation, nearly one They were, however, of some use to hundred feet long and forty broad, the missionaries, in facilitating their supported in the centre by wooden first intercourse with the natives, pillars eighteen feet high, thatched The missionaries were received in with entwined leaves of the plantain a very friendly manner. Moomoor, tree, and sheltered on the sides by the principal chief of the island, screens of bamboo." p. 51.. gave them a habitation and land. "It was a comfortable dwelling, in a little field, inclosed with reeds neatly interwoven, and fastened to green stakes driven into the ground, which had shot forth suckers and branches, that now were entwined into a ver dant fence." In this habitation the author and nine other missionaries took up their abode, while the two. remaining missionaries proceeded in the Duff to the Marquesas. "We watched her," says the narrator, "labouring amid the waves, till she sank in the horizon from our view. A sigh of sadness then arose, and some tears of regret fell from our eyes, whilst we looked round upon this island, far distant from the regions of civilized life, as the scene where we should pass and end our days." p. 74. This house, together with a tract. of ground adjoining to it, and sufficiently extensive for the plentiful production of bread-fruit and cocoanuts, was cheerfully given by Manne Manne, grandfather of the, reigning King, to such of the missionaries as intended to take up their abode at Otaheite. It is the custom at Otaheite for the first-born to be considered as the head of the family, as soon as he comes into the world. Otoo, though only about seventeen, was king; while his father, Pomarre, performed all the offices of state, as his prime minister; and his grand father, Manne Manne, had, as it appeared, the chief power as the high priest of the island. " The cocoa-tree and the plantain, are among the most useful productions of the South-Sea islands. The fruit of both these trees is exceed ingly agreeable, as well as highly nutricious. The cocoa-nut is filled with milk of a most pleasant flavour and just before the milk begins to coagulate into a kernel, the quantity in some nuts is as much as a full quart." p. 55. When the kernel has absorbed about half the milk, it serves both for meat and drink. The blossom, the green apple, and the full ripe nut, adorn the tree throughout the year. The ship, with the remainder of the missionaries, proceeded to Ton Protected by a powerful chief, the missionaries continued for some time unmolested; and the natives appeared to vie with each other in civility towards them. While the missionaries made to the natives presents of various European articles, the natives brought to them bales of cloth, mats, roasted pigs, bunches of ripe plantains, and strings of cocoa-nuts. The cloth made at Tongataboo is from the inner bark of trees, moulded and battered. The death of Moomooe was celebrated with combats of gladiators, and other barbarous rites, which lasted for several weeks. Tooga bowe, a chief well disposed towards the missionaries, was elected his successor; and under his protection they seem to have apprehended nothing from the natives. But the two Europeans, whom they met at their first arrival, were now joined by a third, and began to harass, threaten, and even attack, the missionaries. Alarmed by their conduct and menaces, and finding that they had made but little progress in the language by living together, separate from the natives, the missionaries determined to take up their abode in little parties with different chieftains. The author went to reside with Mulkaamair; and from that time confines the narrative almost entirely to his own conduct and adventures. Of the missionaries left at Otaheite we hear nothing: of the two who went on in the Duff to the Marquesas, one, of the name of Harris, refused to stay; the other, Crook," with apostolic firmness determined to remain, though by himself." readers some accounts of his behaviour while on the island and we shall relate his departure from religion in his own words, which are calculated to convey an important lesson to every Christian. "Accustomed to these scenes of pleasure, luxury, and amusement; uurestrained by the presence of my companions; unassisted by any public means of grace; having singly to stem the torrent of iniquity; it was not long before I felt the pernicious influence of general example. This, however, was much owing to my own negligence of private dutions of my sinful nature. Indeed, when I ties, and my yielding to the corrupt inclinalook back, I perceive that the unsubdued -propensities of my heart, which began to operate before I came to reside with Mulkaamair, were not duly resisted. Instead of praying for grace to withstand and mortify them, I began to indulge in foolish imaginations, and to neglect the needful exercises of private prayer, reading the Bible, and meditation. These first steps out of the path of duty, which are generally taken by backsliders, soon led me into still farther aberralike the means of grace; I never visited the tions from the right way. I began to disbrethren; found delight in the company, Mulkaamair, while he lived, manners, and amusements of the natives; proved a steady friend to the mis-, and soon took a large part in them. As the sionaries: his death was the begin- religious impressions of my mind were weakning of their calamities. He was ened, the corrupt dispositions of my mind murdered by a rival chief: and this gathered strength. Yet, at times, my con murder produced a long and savage science troubled me with loud accusations of war; in the course of which three inconsistency, which forced me to pray. At of the missionaries were slain by the length, however, I became so hardened as to natives: the others (with the exdespise my convictions; and totally absentception of the author of the Naf- ed myself from those appointed periodical meetings of the brethren, which might have rative) escaped on board an English revived them. My regard for them daily ship, which touched there for pro- diminished, and I left off visiting them." visions. The author, not being with them, was left behind. His life was threatened with most imminent danger, when the Royal Admiral touched at the Friendly Islands for provisions. It was just departing when our author discovered it, and attempted to reach it in a canoe. Being in the native dress, he was taken at first by the sailors for a native who had learnt a few words of English, and they paid no attention to him; but the kind, interfeTence of the captain rescued him from his perils. We now return to give our After a time he imitated the manners of the natives, adopted their dress, and joined them in their sins. He married, according to the rites of the country, the daughter of Mulkaamair. After a time he was reproved by the brethren, and consented to be married to her by them; but when the nature of the engagement, as ending only with the life of one of the parties, was explained to the woman, she refused to enter into it. The author, upon this, separated from her; but did not rejoin his colleagues; and soon after took his wife back again. Meanwhile worldly prosperity wholly occupied his mind: he entirely abandoned the object of his mission, and seemed to live without God in the world. Partly by the donations of the liberal Mulkaamair, and partly by purchase, he had acquired an abbee," or farm, of considerable 'extent, on which he employed many of the natives, as labourers. Here he lived in abundance, aud on terms of most friendly intercourse with the islanders, till the breaking out of the war, which compelled him to leave the island; yet he neglected the favourable opportunity of bringing the natives to a knowledge of the Gospel. On his return to England, our author retired to his native town, and resumed his original trade. "In this scene of retirement"- -we use his own words--" the prodigal began to repent, the back-slider to pray, the wanderer to return to the fold from which he had departed." p. 222. That he has repented, and returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of his soul,' the Narrative affords us every ground to believe. The terms in which he speaks of his fall, and the reflections which he makes on the many providential interferences by which he was preserved from dying in his sins, appear to be the language of real penitence. He exhibits, also, fruits meet for repentance.' "One principal effect, too, resulting from my past declension from God, and my return to him, was, that I became afraid of the world; remembering how ensnaring it had proved, and that my past offences had been in a great measure occasioned by my yielding to its spirit and maxim's. I entered the company of the worldly and profane, where engagements called me, with reluctance and fear" p. 223. The Narrative concludes with the following striking passage: "If some soul should be guarded, by these memoirs, from yielding to negligence and presumption, either in distant clines, or in their own' land; if any one should be made to dread declension from the paths of piety, by the difficulty and anguish of mind that must be encountered in a restora tion to God; if some back-sliders should be roused immediately to return, from a fear of which I was so often in danger; if sorse death and perdition in the midst of sin, of penitent sinner, some returning Prodigal, should be encouraged to seek mercy through the Redeemer, by that grace which I trus I have found; and should any of the servants of the Most High be stimulated to persevere in waiting at a throne of grace to: daily assistance from above, to preserve them in their integrity' to the end of life; the greatest work of the missionary, seduced abroad and reclaimed at home, will be com pleted, and the design of the compiler of the Narrative fully answered; and to the Triune Author of all good shall be all the praise." p. 225. We have abstained hitherto from extracting any account of the cus toms of Tongataboo; and we mus refer our readers to the Narrative itself for a description of the dress c the inhabitants; their houses, or fallees; their mode of cooking their victuals, and passing their time. No shall we delineate those features in their character, or particularize thos vices, by which they contribut to evidence the scriptural doctrine o man's corruption. The Christia Observer cannot wholly pass over i silence their notions on property an government, and their views of rel gion. At Tongataboo, though there no community of goods, yet it is th custom, where any one has abun dance, for others to flock to him; ar it would be considered as contrar to nature to refuse. This is state in general terms; but from oth parts of the Narrative we apprehe it is to be understood of perser only who hold the like rank in s ciety. We do not imagine, that chief, who had plenty, would fe himself bound to distribute amen the lower orders. "The chiefs we are told, "exercise an arbitra: power over the lower orders, a have every thing belonging to the in their power; which their s officers take from them without |