NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 137, 25 March 1854, Page 2

NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Aneiteum, New Hebrides, September 30, 1853. Sir,—As I have reason to believe that a few particulars respecting this island, and lliis mission, will he acceptable to most of your renders; and as an unusual degrre of interest has been excited on behalf of this group in the adjoining eolonies, especially in Sydney. I have written the following paragraphs, in the hope that by diffusing information, I may promote the interests of the work in wliieli I am engaged. Aneileuni is the most southern island of the New Hebrides. The harbour on the soiilli-wesi side of the island, as laid down by Captain Oliver, of 11..M.5. I'lv, is in lal. -20- MS., long. HV.r- i!> IS' K. Var. 10= ">(V High water at V. and (".. 1 h. '2O in. This is a small and ralher a poor island, about thirty miles in circumference. Volcanic agencies have been extensively employed in its formation. It may be said to consist of a congeries of mountains of a considerable height, intersected by three or four large, niul a number of small valleys. The hills are sleep, and the valleys for the most part deep and narrow. A small strip of alluvial land along the shore, with the lower part of the larger valleys, constitute (lie most of the cultivated land on the island, and contain the principal part of the population. The lower and middle purls of the mountains next the sea are mostly formed of red ferruginous clay, and are scantily covered with herbage and brushwood. On the upper parts of the mountains, the soil, though

strong, consists of a rich nioiihl, and the ■"summits are densely covered will) forest. -\Vill» the exception of a small portion of very coarse sandstone on one side of the island, Hie rocks are all of the unslialilied primitive class. '1 he island, as might be expected, is well watered, and lite ingenuity of the natives is perhaps seen in nothing so much as in the canals they have constructed for conveying water to initiate the plantations. Then: are swamps in dilVerenl parts of the island, valuable, when cultivated, for the growth of taro, hut when It'll uncultivated, as a large proportion of (hem still are, they tend cipially to {•i , in:i-:ilis miasma, the'parent of fever and ague. The principal fruit trees on this island are the cocoa nut, the bread fruit, the horse i-hesiiiit. anil a few others of less value. The. l'-ipaw apple has lately been introduced; it "»rows well, and is last spreading over the Fsland. Taro is cultivated in considerable (|iianlilies; it may he regarded as the bread of lit:; land. Sugar ranc and bananas are both extensively cultivated, and are staple articles of food. Yams are produced only In a very limited exlcul. On Tana, however, the 'nearest island to this, they grow in grcal ipianlilies. The sweet potato, and some other bullions roots, are common over the whole island. I'umpkius and melons have been introduced, and glow well. Mai/.c appears to grow well, but is as yet little cultivated. Pigs and poultry are the only live stock that the natives possess, and these are. mil verv numerous. Around all the island, but especially al the principal harbour, lishiag is a regular and almost daily pursuit. The natives are apparently very fond offish; the fish, however, are not very plentiful, mil are for the most part of an inferior quality. Al certain seasons, however, a few turtle are caught. This is an island on which, by ,n moderate industry, an abundance of food may always be raised, but where the spontaneous productions of the earth and of the ocean are much less abundant than they appear lobe inmost of the islands of eastern Polynesia.

Tim unlives of this island, and of sal I lliis nml tin: adjoining groups, Ijcloiij-V to the'l'a]iii:iii negro race: they have :i dark skin, crisp hair, ami coarse features, ami every Hand speaks a different language. Tln:y are about Hit* middle size, Iml well formed, and light and aelive in llieir movements. In mechanical skill, the natives of this island, mnl indeed ol'all this group, are greatly inferior to the natives of eastern Polynesia, and the other Malay races; their canoes, houses, ornament*, and weapons of war, shew theleaslpossibleskill in their form and workmanship. Hill they are quite an improvahle race, and fond of imitating llieir superiors; already llieir houses are Inst assuming a greatly improved appearance. They are neither la/.ynor indolent; they can work well nl any kind of l.tbonr, and make excellent domestic, servants. They are less bouncing than the New Zealanders, and less covetous, bill more given to stealing and lying. They are less courageous than the IVew-Zealaiiders, but more amiable and affectionate in llieir disposition. Unman naIniv is essentially the same all over the world : but dill'erent circumstances lend to develop the sani" qualities in different proportions, and produce lliose endless varieties of national and individual character. This island is divided politically into six districts, live on the shore, and one inland, vi/.., Anelicaiihat, I'nielsh, and liaho, on the south side of the island ; and Anau-uii-jai, Aneileo, and Anaii-un-sc, on the north side : each of these districts is under the power of a distinct chief. Tim power of the chiefs, however, on this island is very limited , every man seems to do very much what i right in his own eyes. The men who were distinguished as warriors, or famed as disc sn makers, being most dreaded, possessed llii; greatest influence. I'mler the reign or heathenism, in both civil and religious matters, fear, and not love, was the grand moving principle, by which obedience was secured. The only islands seen from Aneileum are Tana and I'lilumi, both lying to the north oflhis island, the former about twentylive or thirty miles, the latter about thirty or thirty-five. Fiiliuia is the most eastern island of ibis group. Il is smaller than Aneileum. Hut Tana, on the other hand, is ff-catlylarger. lieiween Aneitciiiu and these i .id islands there is a great deal of occasional intercourse, by small parlies of natives going backwards and forwards in their canoes, which we hope; may be turned to good account in introducing the gospel among their benighted inhabitants. The most striking natural phenomenon on Tana is the volcano near I'orlUesolulion. In clear weather, the pillar of smoke by day, and gleams of lire by night, are very dis-

liucllv seen from Ihis islam!; ami in calm weallier, but especially when Uio north-west wind blows gently, the roar of thecruplious, booming like caiinon, or sounding like distant thunder, arc distinctly heard, often every few minutes. The vibrations of the air sometimes cause our doors and windows slightly to shako. The volcano has been usually aclive during the last few months. On "the language, traditions, manners, and customs of tin; natives, much might he written that woidd he interesting to general reapers, hut these and some oilier topics I purposely avoid for Ihc present, thai I masgive fuller account of things connected with the .Mission. I Missionary operations were commenced on this island hy the locaiion of Samnon tvaehers, in IK 1-2. The first missionaries j arrived here in !«■««. In that year the I Itevs. Messrs. Powell and (ieddie, and a j cateehisl, located themselves on this islam!. I In 181!), Mr. Powell relumed to Samoa, and i the. cateehisl left the mission. In this way, Mr. fieddie was left alone for nearly Ihree I years, till my arrival fifteen in onllis ago. Our arrival here* was very opportune. Ity the blessing of find uponprevious labours, the work had been fast advancing, and a movement in favour of Christianity had lately ' taken plan! over a great part of the island. The labours of another missionary were ur- , gently wanted, to help in carrying forward Ihc movement, and to prevent a rcl.ipse. I Tlio three districts on the north side of the ' island were placed under my charge, and 1 Ihe three on the south side were continued | under Mr. (Jeddie. Since that lime the j work has gone steadily forward, and has advanced as fast as it eon Id he successfully overtaken and managed. Indeed we have yea reel y any thing to record hut one continued succession of mercies and lilissings, the cffi'ds of God's grace and goodness.

The las( year lias been on (he whole very hcallhy. Mrs. Inglis and 1 have both enjoyed excellent healih, and have thus been' able to pursue our missionary labours without tmv interruption. On our arrival we were very eordially received by (he natives, and their whole subsequent conduct to us has been exceedingly encouraging. The population of this island is (about 3,000; about two-thirds of ih.ise have abandoned heathenism, and prol'ess Christianity, and arc thus placing themselves under christian instruction. There is now but little avowed opposition to the gospel. Christianity is professed openly and fearlessly in every part of the island. The tide of popularity is .setling in all in favour of the new religion. Nearly all the most iiilluential men, and Ihe most populous districts, have embraced Christianity. Hveu in Anan-un-se, one of my districts, tlieinost obstinately heathen in Hie whole, island, and where a young man, a christian, was treacherously murdered by the bealheu a few monlhs before my arrival,— even (here a small opening has been effected. Two months ago, a small school-house was creeled in one village, and a teacher appointed. - The altendaneeiqion public worship, both at the two principal stations and at Ihe oulstalions, is highly encouraging. At Anolicauhat, Mr. Cieddie's station, a church was erected last year, capable of holding . : >OO people, and it is beginning to be too small. At my station, we are erecting one at present (o be capable of holding 700, which we hope by and by (o see tilled. Our regular attendance at present is 500. The. natives are very regular in their attendance upon public "worship, and when present conduct themselves with exemplary propriety. Kducalion is advancing very favourably over (be whole island. The natives evince a strong desire to be taught, and they possess capacities for the acquisition of knowledge in no way inferior to the .Malay races in New Zealand*am! eastern Polynesia. Our educational operations are limited only by the want of men us to extend and cany them forward, viz., teachers, books, and necessary apparatus. In my three districts I have thirlcen schools, and I have enrolled upwards o( 700 scholars. The. school at my station, which I aim at making a kind of Normal school, is attended by 130 scholars. .My greatest fell want at present is a sullicieiH number of moderately qualified nalive teachers and monitors. To meet this want as far and as fast as possible, I have an afternoon class four days in the week for teachers, to improve the present teachers, and to prepare others. This class is attended by fifty pupils. To improve ihe female population as much as possible, .Mrs. Inglis has commenced a small select boarding school for young women, much on the same principle as those kept by the missionaries' wives in Samoa. She has taken in eight, two of whom are the daughters of the | two principal chiefs on tins side of the is-

I:iiml. She has alsn an afternoon rlass for female learliers. allcnded liy twenty. A consideralile mmilu-i- «il" llie natives ran read corrertlv; a .small launder fan «iilc lolernMy; a'Tew have eonimeined nrilhmrtie; and all Law made snmc progress. The work is rarried on iniuli .in the same way, and lias advance.! very i:mii:!i alike, ml I>-.l!t sides of ll;e island ; vv!)i;;eViT a movement lias taken place <m llie one side, il lias liccn followed liv Miiiielliiug similar en die (illier. The principal iKn'eivuce hj; iwi en the two sides of Ihe island is ill!;. Ilir.l .Ml. Oldie's slalinil. heinu l!ie n!.lest, ihe-.voil; is I) illl lame advaneed and mure ruicoU'lalcd mi Ins side llia.'i 0:1 mine ; ill,' n tn:i!.er ui christian natives i- ;;ie.iler. an I a nsm.lin <>!' ilieni at'." ■•-.il fitrlheradvanccd in kuowl'dco and christian eliaraele.", than any e.piil iiuiuher .in l!:is side the island. Thewalelr.vord of ihe :);;". ' : llie srlinolimislerisaliread," is an aelive principle ewn liere mi the very outskirts id' llie dire Man world. It is one ol our primary objects lo .uiw the natives 11-.c word of ("mil in lli.'ir uw-i language as last as possible, and in leaeli (hem lo read il, in llie linn hope dial the Holy Spirit, lln; leaelier, will .'pen llieir uudcrslnndini; lo imdeisiaiid the Scriptures, and inclini/their hearts lo receive the truth in the love ol" it.

I'our small books liavebren prepared :n;il printed in lliis language. A Irans'atioii of Mark's gospel was seul In Sulney three months ago, liy the missionary barque the Joint lf'ii.'inw.-; lo be printed' there; llic press belonging lo (In-Mission here being 100 small for printing a gospel. This, which we expect daily, is the lir.-l entire hook of scripture, llial lias been primed in lliis language; lull oilier portions are in a sl.'.lc of forwardness. Mr. Oeddie has also prepared and primed a small elementary hook on llic language, of Kromanga. There, are no fewer llian nine languages spoken at present on lliis island, around llu; Uvo mission stations. W'rliave, as a mailer of course, the Aueilcuni and I'.uglish languages. Wo have native teachers from .Samoa and Itaialonga, speaking oilier l\vo languages, or at least uvo very distinctly marked dialeels of anollier language. We have natives of Tuna and Fiiluna residing 'lere al prescnl, and speaking oilier two languages. The deputation in llie./n/oi iVHUums left will) us. (ill their return from Sydney, natives of Kroniauga, I'ale, and -Nina, or Savage Island, speaking threeoilierdilt'ereiu languages. Is there any university in Kurope thai can boasl of such an array of living languages. Hut, alas, our I'olyglollism lends only lo perpetuate ignorance, nol lo extend knowledge. It is llu: curseol'ltahel, not llic blessings of renlecosl, llial \vc experience, ll is (lie confusion, and not llic gifl of tongues, llial vvc exhibit on this island. Jl is llic work of sin, ignoiauce, and barbarism lo'multiply languages. ll is the work of Christianity, knowledge, and civilization, to diminish {heir number. " Many are. llic languages on earth, there is only onein heaven." Necessity, however, the mother of invrnlioii, compels ns to be linguists, and wc contrive lo hold a little inlei course audio speak a few words, though in some instances only a few, in all these languages. •We arc very desirous Ural, by Hie blessing of (loil upon our labours, Aueiteum should become lo the New llebriiles whal lona was in the old Hebrides. (."Thai illustrious island." lo <|iiole llic well known words of Hr. Johnson, "which was once ihe luminary of the. Caledonian regions, whence savage clans and roving barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge and llu; blessings of religion. I am, Sir, Vours very respectfully, John I.noi.is.