REPORT of a MISSIONARY TOUR in the NEW HEBRIDES, &c , on boar. H. M. S. "Havannah," by the Rev. John Inglis, Reformed Piesbyterian Missionary, New Zealand.—Continued from our last. [From the "Government Gazette."]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 534, 28 May 1851, Page 3

REPORT of a MISSIONARY TOUR in the NEW HEBRIDES, &c , on boar. H. M. S. " Havannah," by the Rev. John Inglis, Reformed Piesbyterian Missionary, New Zealand. — Continued from our last. [From the " Government Gazette."]

Ii is probuble that the Papuan race in the "Western Pacific were a mucli earlier migration than the Malay race in the Eastern Pacific, and that the language of til ,the Papuan tiibes was originally the same , but, migrating so early, as well as 10 far, from tbe oiigi'nal seats of civilization and true religion, they would bring but little of those conservative principle! with them, and that lit'le would soon in their circumstances he lost ; and hence, living in their present scattered nnd hostile condition for hundreds, if not thousands of yeurs, their language, with no literature, and no intercouise to preserve itt unity, and exposed so long and so continuously to ail the causes, of chnnge, would undergo endless mutations, and thus its present diversities of form may be easily accounted for, even supposing that they all spoke originally the same language. The Malay race, migrating at a much Jater period, would bring more rivjlizition with them ; and, hnvinq; had less time to lose what they brought, and to undergo the changes in language which time and separation iaTariably effect, tre found everywhere speaking a lan^ge greatly changed in many of its it rails but utill essrniialh one in its gieat outlines. In the New Hebrides, no intercourse could have tfken place among the inhabitants of the different islands, since they possess no canoes that could sail ft om one island to another, or only very rarely. In Erumangu, it is doubtful if they had any canoes at all: receutly, since foreigneis have been visiting them, a tmde in canoes, and other articles is springing up between them and the natives of Tana. On the other hand, there was always among the Malays a constant intercourse kept up, at least among the natives of tbe same group, w.iich would picieive a similarity of language. The Papuan language has also in itself more ele ; men's for producing variation than the Malay. It has more letters, both simple and compound; and it ; allows syllables to end either in vowels or consonants ; whereat the Malay confines all its syllables to a vowel termination. It is difficult even yet to ascertain the nrecise number of sounds in the Malay dialects, nnd *juitc impossible to do so at present in the Papuan ; but this is not necessary for our present argument. It is quite certain that the Papuan has many mote sounds than the Ma'ay ; and thus, from its containing more primary elements, and from its containing: a double principle of syllabic termination, of combining rowels and consonants, the dunces of change and variation, according to the established laws of combination and permutation, are vattly greater in the Papuan language than in the Malay. If wr consider the numerous elements of mutation in the Papuan tongue, the great isolation of the tribes, the few conservat.ve influences, and the length of time these causes of change have been in operation, we need not marvel at the thoroughly Polyglot character of the Papuan race. Although it instill highly probable that a farther investigation and a fuller knowledge of the various dialects, would discover more numerous affinities and closer rrsemblanee* than a supeificial examination has al yet been able to diicover. There it, however, one most important advantage that the Papuans have over the Malays ; that is, the ease with nhirb they can pronounce if not also acquue English. From the sounds in their lnnt»uage being so much the same as in English, the Papuan, can pronmiiice English words and even benlenee* with grest ea^e end con ect ness; whereas ull the Malay* have u> liquefy the English words 60 much with vowels, that the original form and sound is nearly lost before tlrey can enunciate them. At Tana, we found a native who hud been on board a Sydney vessel for a few year', and who •poke very understandable English, much more so th in any New Z^ulandeis I litre crer heard, though

in penrral civilization he was greafly behind vast numbers of them. A good many of the natives, both in the New Hebrides and in New Caledonu, can ppoik a iHtlp English very intelligibly. Even at the Salomon Islands we found a native dressed in a check shirt, nnd whe could ipenk a few words of English. Throughout the whole of these groups the natives manifest a great fondness for speaking English and for holding intercourie with those who speak the English tongue. We found scarcely a trace of the French language in any of the islands. The Missionary operations in these islands have been very limited, and confined almost exclusively to the New Hebrides and New Caledonia. Adrputation from the London Missionary Society visited the New Hebrides in 1839, when tV Rev. John Williams and Mr. Han is were unfortunately killed by the natives of Erumang*. Subsequent deputations pianbd some fifty or sixty native teachers from Samoa and Rarotonga, on Aneiteum, Tan-i, Erum mga, Fate and other js'hikls of the New Hebiide*, and also on soi.e of the Loyalty Islands, the Isle of Pine*, and New Caledonia. But a great number of theie teacher s hate either died or been kilUd, In 1842 the Rev. Mesirs. Nisbett and Turner, two of the London Society's missionaries, were located with their families on Tana; but influenza or some epidemic appearing among the natives, ufter ten months they were obliged to leave the island, in cons u quenee of the threatening conduct of the natives, who regarded them as the cause of the sickness and moitnlity, and no European Misiionaty has been stationed there since. Within the List few years arrangement! have been made between the agents of the London Missionary Society and ths Bishop of New Zealand on behalf of the Church Missionary Society, in oider to prevent any collision or waste of labour, that the London Mis« sionary Society shall occupy the New Hebrides, and the Church Missionary Society, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. The Bishop h«« been engaged iv preparatory measures ; he his brought several youths to his Institution near Auckland, and taken them back, after several months, to their own tribes and is thus gaining Ihe confidence of the natives, so that he may locate English Missionaries without danger to life or property. In 1848 a Presbyterian Mission was established on Aneiteum, under the «u s pices of the London Missionary Society. There are at present two families connected with tI)M mission. There are fire stations on the island ; four aie occupied by native teachers fiora Samoa or Rarotonga, and visited by tha missions, ie-* who ieside at the fifth Th- population of the isl-uid it 3,000. The progreis of the Mission has been satisfactory and encouraging. The language hug been acquired and reduced to writing ; two primers have been printed ; a pood many of the natives can read a little; from one to two hundred attend public worship, »nd are under regular instiuction ; a taste for clothing is springing up ; &uj>pr»tition is giving way to reaion and truth : war is becoming Irss frequent; life and property are perfectly lecure on the whole island, which can be aflirmed of no other island in this group. There has been a s>andal-wood establishment on Am-iteum for some jears, in connection with which there are some respectable families; but the Bandalw«od trade as a whole, admitting some honourable exceptions, has been conducted by persons of reckless character, and has been frjught mthmott disastrous consequences to the natives of most of the islands where it has been carried en, and the evils infl cted have in ratny cases recoiled with fearful violence upon the headi of those who inflicted them. But the regular visits of ships-of-war to these island* are likely to correct and prevent these evili. A French Roman Cathol c Mission was es'ablished on Aneiteum about three jean ago, and also on New Caledonia somewhat earlier, where three stations vvcre occupied by European Missionaries. But the missionaries have been wi'hdrawn an'l the stations abun« doned both i:> the New Hebrides and New CaledoniaThe French Miisionaries are at prespnt all located on the Isle of Pinei. The French are very unpopular in Polynesia. Their doings ai Tahiti, and the cavalier manner in which they tieat the mtivei generally, have alienated the affections of the natives fiom them. The French do not appear to have the same facility for requiring the language and gaining the confidence of the ijnauven as the English. In almost all the groups in the Pacific, natives of Britain and America are found living in ktvurity, having, alter more or less difficulty, gained the confidence and acquired the language of the Aborgines, The principal permanent difficulties to be encountered in prosecuting missions in the New Hebrides are, the number and smallness of the tribes, the diversity of languages or dialects, and the unhealthily* ol the climate during the north-west monsoons, from November till Apul* During tliii «easo)) of tke year fever and ague, and also the jungle fever of India, prevail among the foreigners, both white and coloured. This tendency to fever arises from the humidity of the atmospbeie in the New Hebrides, le is u well ascertained fact, that a dry air of ninety degrees is not so insupportnhle as a humid air of eighty degrees; and ( that a hot and humid atmosphere is unhealthy, although a hot air, when dry, may be very salubrious. In the one case, the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the body is rapid j in the other case from the humidity of the air, evaporation is impeded ; moisture collects on ths skin ; a sultry, oppressive sensation is felt ; and chills and fevers are usually in the train. There are also frequently violent thunder storms, tremendous hurricdnta, and for weeks at a time continuous to' rents of rain. During these months the missionaries are cither laid up with sickness, or prevented to a great extent, by the state ot the weather from prosecuting their hbou s. A vigorous constitution, and the gift of tongues, would be indispensable qua ihcations in missionaries to this group. The small trib.es and the diversified languages must be met and dealt with as (hey beit can ; but the Mcklines* of the climate, may be remedied, and it mu»t be reme lied before any permanent good can be effected. New Zealand is only from a week to a foitnight'i sailing from the New Hebrides, aud wtre au lusututnn established at or near Auckland, to which >i part of the missionaries at least could come from the New Hebrides with a select nunober of youths, and where they could instruct them in English and other branches of learning during the unhealthy and hurricane months, which »re the finest tnoctht in New Zealand, they could return and labour in the Now Hebrides during (be healthy and pleasant season there, which is the winter season in New Zealand. Ibe most healthy might remnin, iv rotation, in chirge of the mission rations during these mouths. Weie ariaiigements of this kind made the health of the missionaries mi;: In be preierved, as far as local influences could affect them, anJ, like birds of passage, tney wou'd have perpetual summer all the year round, and might piosecute their labours from year ro year withotK any serious interruptions. The £frtfute;.t objection to tiinplan would be the extra expanse, le would involve Ht least double thi expense ot an ordinary mission ; but it would prove the cheapest iv the end : each mis-ionary would do twice the amount of labour he conld othetwise do! his health would remntn moie vigoious, mid hit life would be prolonged far a much

lo»2Pr period The most difficult and expensive part of ti)3 j>la 1 would be to secure a suitable vessel at the proper iieiiod*. Two or three missionaries located on 1')O txtie.niue* of such a group can carry on their operations only und-r great d is. d vantages : it would require a band of men furnished with every requisite tv ra.ike anything like n deep, speedy, or permanent impression upon a racr of men io savage and degraded, lhe Missionaries in Simoa recommended to the London Missionary Society some }eais ago, that if they wished to evm^elize the New Hebrides, they must send at once ten or twelve tniseionarit;s, and furnish them with every requisite for the field and the work, otherwise little good could be done. The London ! Society could not at that time carry outthe§ue;ge!>tion. Whether the Presbyterian Missions in conjunction, with the London Society mny be able to undertake operations that will tell upon the whole group, remains yet to be »een. These remarks, however, are raiher suggestions than matured plans. Where so little comparatively is known, farther expsrienre might lead to both modifications and changes in the most feasible modes of present operations. It is probable, that by attei.dinsr carefully to the lawi of health, in the selection of sites, and in the construction of dwellings, and by other preventive measures, less injury might be cuitaineJ from ntmospheric influences, and moie simple and efficient measures might be adopted. The enoouiagermnts for prosecuting missionary labours in the New Hebiides are, the naturally mild disposition of the natives gcnera'ly, when their passions aie not excited ; their energy of character (they can apply themselves to labour with great vigour and perseverance) j tlieir altitude for acquiring the English language; their p»-esfnr strong desite for inibiioniries to live arming them; and their confidence in the British character. This ia shown very fully by the readiness and often eagerness with which they em~ baric on board of British vessels 1 . A year or two ago the " Johu Williams,," missionary barque, obtained three young men at Erumanga and took them to Samoa. List year H.AI S. " Fly," Captain Oliver, brcught a young kd, a chief's son, from Fate, who was taken back in the " Ha«pnnab." A spcond young tad, also a. chief's ton, was obtained by the " Havannah" at the same place in Fa'e, and two from Eru manga, and one from the Solomon Islands offered, yea, even, entreated to be a lowed to go with the vessel, without any promise of being sent back. Some years ago t native of Aneiteum hid himself in a vessel lrom Sydney, \u order to g.-t away in her ; his friends beinir Hgain^t bis goimj away and the captain of the vessel unwilling to take him. The progress that has been mude at Aneiteum is highly enconrageing. To say nothing of the moie direct and sphituai objects of the mission, there is now the most complete security for life and property throughout the whole island, and a greater degiec of safety on portions of the contiguous is'ands; which was not the case two years ago: ie wan with difficulty then that the Presbytciian missionaries were allowed to settle. In the event of an Institution of the kind referred to above, being es'ablisbed neai Auckland the youths brought to it would be in geiieial the ions of chiefs and persons of distinction, and their influence on their tespective tribes when thsy returned would necessarily be powerful and would operate farourably in begetting a friendly feeling toward* the peibons and the interests of British subjects. I hive tbm, at your Excellency's request, furnished a report of my missionary tour through the New Hebrides. Tlie in'eiest that your Excellency takes in missions generally, and the anxiety you have expressed for the chiistianizing and civilizing of the natives of tlicte islands in pn fcular, us being so contiguous to New Zealand, n-e try apology for the le lgth to which. I have extended this report. I vhall feel most happy if the intoimation it contains shall be of any service in guiding you to apply successfully the means placed at your disposal for promoting the interests of humanity, civilization, and commerce in thete islands ■» for elevating the degraded aboiigines and securing the life and pioperty of Btitish and oiher subjects— and for aiding in ways most competent for you those benevolent and philanthropic societies that are labouring to rahe the aborigines ot the islands in the Pacific irom their present state of barbari-m and degradation, ibat they may enjoy all the blessings and advantages of puie and undefined religion, scriptural education, and general civilization. I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's most obedient, and most ob iged servant, JuHN INGLIS, Missionary fr^m the Reformed Piesbyterian Chuich in Scotland. Auckland, March 7ih, 1851.

Diocese or Lyitelton — At the recent conference between the Bishop of Ntw Zealand and the Rfjv. Tlionias Jackson, DD M Bi«hop Designate of Lyttlrion, it was agreed, that subject to the approval of the Bishop of Sydney, as Metr opoliian, the new diocese of Lytteltoa shall consist of the Canterbury Settlement, and all that portion of the Middle Island of New Zealand, which is to the south of the 43rd degree of scuili latitude, tiie southern, or Stewarts Island, the C.iathani Islauds, and the Auckland Is'an'ls. With respect to the consecration of the new bishop, the ijishop of Sydney, at the request of Dr. Jackson, has consented to forego, on this occasion, his acknowledged inetropoluical right of consecrating bishops within this p.-odnce, and the comccra.iag will take place in Canterbury Cathedral, as the Archbishop and the Dean and Chaplain are anxioiu thereby to make their connection with the new settlement that bears their name. The remaining portion of Nevr Zealand, it is propo etl, shall for the present remain in charge of Bishop Selwyn ; hut as soon as an increase ot population, or other causes may render the appointment of another bishop advisable, it has btvn arranged that a furtLer tub-division of it into two tliocoses shall take place. — Sydney Herald, dpril 26.

Teli graph to California — On the 3rd. Jan. Gen. Gass pmseuted in Congress the petition ot Jo&iah Snow, Anson Bangs and associate!, of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Co., Hskin; a subscription or donation on the part of United States of #300,000 for the same, to he paid on the completion ot the line fronti the Mississippi to San Frano sco ; the line to be completed in eighteen monius Ie was referred. Apparently a good fe<-linsj exists in Washington in relanou to the application. Steam Between San Francisco and China* It is suted by the Wasbini<ton Jet'er wrner in ihe New York papers, that the Naval Cummitiee of the lloi^c of Representatives weie about to report forabill.a. line of stuameri between San FrMiicisco and Shdiighae, in occnrdatice with a proposition submitted by parties in New Yoik, (understood to be Rowland & AspiuwaJJ.) This Panama RAiLRnAD.—The progress of this important work (says the Panama Star) has been, check, 'd from lime to time, in consequence ot the desertion cf some of those employed o;) ii>c line, grewtly to the annoyance, loss, aad inconvenience of the company.