CIVILIZATION OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDERS.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 1, 4 January 1849, Page 1

CIVILIZATION OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDERS.

Notwithstanding the great and glorious privileges of civilization. Notwithstanding the inappreciable blessings it confers upon all its participators. Notwithstanding its omnipotence to elevate the savage to the excellence and intelligence of the man : —still, there are beings so lost to sense and shame—so sunk in degrading practices—so contaminated by grovelling gratification of sensual appetite, as to affect to decry the inestimable value of the light of truth and reason,'and to hug the moral darkness that yields at once indulgence and a cloak to the courses of their dissolute and dishonoured lives. To such creatures—(lie castaways of civilization —every attempfto enlighten the, barbaliaii and to redeem (lie heathen is an unpardonable olVeuce ; because they arc death blows struck at their ignoble influence :—instruments of power to disturb their unhallowed pleasures —agents to save the souls they care not to sacrifice. It cannot be matter of surprise that such creatures should cherish the most malignant hatred towards the envoys of civilization ; or that they should strive, with all the bitterness of jaundiced spirits, to question the motives, impugn the conduct, and deny the blessed effects of the iudomitable zeal of those whose virtuous and energetic lives are their hourly and intolerable reproach. Aware, as we were, of the anxiety of these outcasts of society to maintain an unworthy influence over the minds of those South Sea Islanders, accunt in their presence, we confess we were not prepared to learn that their audacity had ventured the length of casting a doubt 011 the advantages resulting to the natives of th? Sandwich Islands from a civilize*-

tiun as general as it has been rapid and surprising ; yet such appeals to be the fact —anil happy are we that it should have been so, since it has elicited a contradiction, and challenged a comparison betwixt the Kingdom of Hawaii, in its heathen and ill its Christian condition. That contradiction which appeared in the " Polynesian" newspaper of the sth of August, is fortunately in our possession, audai we look upon it as one peculiarly applicable to the similar state of change which New 'Zealand is undergoing, we are happy to give it a place in our lirst r.ni'il.er. " The Sandwich Islanders ought naturally to 'he objects of interest to the New Zealand Islanders, to whom in person, language, and manners, they are said to bear a considerable resemblance. There is also this community of interest, that both were visited by the same illustrious benefactor of mankind, Captain Cook ; whose murder on their island of Owhyhee is a stain which the civilised Hawaiians of to day lament and blush to name. We shall have much to say in this Journal of Hawaii, beciuse, although that country has a little outstript this in the race of civilization, it presents nevertheless a singular parallel, and affords a striking incentive to New Zealand, no whit behind it in native intelligence or ability. /The Sandwich Islands, (we learn from a variety of sources,) are a secluded but interesting j;ronp of islands, situated in the midst of the Pacific Ocean. Thereare,inall,thirteen or fourteen islands; but, with the exception of Owhyhee, where Cook was killed, the rest are but of inconsiderable size. The islanders are honourably distinguished among the Polynesian nations by the advances they have made in civilization ; and particularly by their progress in manufactures and commerce. The principal port is Honolulu, 011 the south side of the island of Oaliu. It has many excellent houses ; with a considerable population, among which are a large number of English and American, but chiefly the latter. The anchorage is good j and it is a very favourable place for refitting ships. Water is good and plentiful; and fresh provisions may generally be had oil very reasonable terms. It is much frequented by whale ships, and its trade is rapidly extending to California, to the North West coasts of America, to China, and elsewhere. The Saml- ■ ich Islander* are good seamen, and possess many large and valuable ships. They are governed by a native King, whose independence, has been recognized by England, America, and France. Here, for the present, Ave shall pause, recommending the following instructive narrative to our readers, and soliciting all who take an interest in Maori civilization to explain and impress upon their minds the steps by which, in eight and twenty years, the Hawaiians, or Sandwich Islanders, have from a herd of savages grown to be a great and prosperous peo-