LANDING AT THE LONE ISLAND.

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After waiting with anxiety for some time, they beheld a native approaching, not in a canoe, but in a large wooden dish about the length of a man. When he reached them, he told

them that the island was named Rurutu.

You well remember the history of this island. Only one year and a quarter had passed since the news of a Saviour had been brought to it, and yet the inhabitants were no longer heathen.

The man in the wooden dish informed the people in the ship, that the reason why no canoes had come near them, was, that the inhabitants of Rurutu had, for some time past, been employed in building a chapel, and new houses, and had neglected to repair their canoes, and that only one tolerable canoe remained. The Rurutan was much delighted to find that there was a missionary on board the vessel. He speedily returned in his dish to the shore, to bring to his king the joyful news. The old canoe he had mentioned now started from the shore, and soon reached the ship. One of the ship's boats also was by this time mended. In these little vessels Mr. Ellis, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Tyerman, as well as the captain, rowed towards Rurutu, and landed on a coral pier, a quarter of a mile long, that the natives had lately built.

All the inhabitants were assembled on the

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beach, and received Mr. Ellis and his friends with joy and affection, not as strangers, but as brethren. Amongst the rest the king of the island appeared. He was a youth of eighteen, of a fair complexion, mild countenance, and graceful manners. The young young queen also seemed amiable and modest, and the infant prince her son was as fair as an English infant. The island of Rurutu was much less hot than Tahiti, therefore the natives were of a lighter complexion.

Near the king stood a tall chief of a majestic appearance: it was Auura, who was the friend and counsellor of the young monarch. How happy is the sovereign who has such a friend!

Mahemene and Puna, the two teachers, were there. They knew Mr. Ellis, and welcomed him with delight, and then invited him and Mr. Bennet and Mr. Tyerman to come to their houses for refreshment.

That evening Mr. Ellis preached in the chapel to a congregation of two hundred people. There was one part of the building which was very remarkable; this was, the rails of the pulpit stairs. They were formed of hard polished wood, which once had been the spears of warriors; but now the people needed spears no longer, for they had become the subjects of the Prince of Peace.

Two days afterwards a meeting was held at

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this chapel, when several speeches were made by Mr. Ellis and others. Among the rest Auura spoke, and after expressing his gratitude to those English Christians, who had first sent out missionaries to the islands of the South Seas, he uttered these memorable words: "We have given up our island to Jesus Christ, to be governed by him as our king; we have given up ourselves to him, that we may serve him; we have given our property to him, for the advancement of his glory; we have given him our all, and we desire to be entirely his."

The ship spent three days at Rurutu, and then set sail with a favourable wind, and reached Huahine on October 4th, after an absence of seven months.

Mr. Ellis then informed his wife of the promise he had made, and in a short time he removed to the Sandwich Islands, where missionaries were more needed than in Huahine.

The brethren did not forget the poor inhabitants of the Marquesas, and determined to seek for other native teachers, to send to them the first opportunity.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

1822.

THE ROYAL MARRIAGE.

WHILE Some of the natives of the South Seas were crossing the ocean to spread the gospel, those at home were not unmindful of the blessed cause. In Tahiti and the neighbouring islands there were yearly meetings (or anniversaries) of the Missionary Society held every May.

The anniversary held at the Royal Mission Chapel this year was particularly interesting, on account of the presence of the little Pomare, who was not quite two years old. He was chosen president of the society instead of his father, and was therefore placed in the chair, being held in the arms of a chief named Hitote. It was delightful to behold a royal infant in such a situation! What throne could become him so well, as the seat in which he was placed for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of Him, who had given him a kingdom, and who is himself the King of kings! Who cannot but desire that every monarch, both young and old, in every country beneath the

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sun, occupied such a post! The day, however, shall come when all kings shall fall down before the Son of God, and count it the highest honour to do him honour. Ps. lxxii. 11.

The account of the contributions made by the people during the year was read aloud by Upaparu. Though nearly ten thousand bamboos* of oil had been subscribed, besides twentyfour pigs, two hundred and sixty-seven balls of arrowroot, and one hundred and ninety-one baskets of cotton, yet the chiefs regretted that the amount had not been greater, and one of them observed in his little speech," Where do we lay out our strength? Is it for God or the devil? For this world or the next?"

This meeting was both begun and ended by singing and prayer.

Mr. Tyerman and Mr. Bennet were not present on this occasion, for they were then at the Sandwich Islands. On their return they continued for some time longer to go from island to island, as they had before done, and to note down those things that struck them. They observed the strict manner in which crimes were punished by the chiefs. It was not to be expected that all the people would be pious, or even obedient to the laws ; it was therefore necessary that punishments should be inflicted. Parents in former times did not correct their

* A bamboo contains nearly three quarts.

B B