The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-03 00:00:00

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PRESENT STATE OF THE NAVI-
GATORS' ISLANi)S. ~• •
In year 1830, when the Missionaries Williams
and Barft first landed at Savaii, one of the Navigators
Islands, a dreadful contest was about to take place
owing to the murder of Taimafainga, a powerful ru!er.
By the interposition of these benevolent• men, the pe-
riod of hostility was shortened; and a better spirit in-
fused ihto the minds of the leaders. The happy change
confirmed the influence of the new faith, and led to
the desire for new teaChers, which was gratified to a
certain extent, at least, in 1836, when several from
England arrived on their shores. At a meeting of
the Chiefs, among whom was Malietoa, these ser-
vants'of Christ entreated that the war should not
be renewed. They were assured that it should
not, and, moreover, that, if any quarrel arose among
the leaders, a reference would be made to them as
umpires. The author of a letter from Upalu, dated
two years later, calculates, that the number of
Christians there is about twenty thousand; that, in
Savaii, there are between twelve and thirteen thou-
sand ; in Tutuila, aboutsix thousand ; and in Mallon°
all the people, amounting to not less than one thou-
sand, have openly professed the faith of the Redeemer.
In one of the districts of Anna was held, in 1837, the
first missionary meeting in the Navigators' Islands;
..•;
It was attended by two thousand five hundred
persons ; the conquerors and the conquered mingling
together. Chiefs of each party delivered speeches oa
the occasion, in which, while they did not forget the
wain object of the assembly, they severally made ,;
touching allusions to their former contests, contrast-
ing with those sanguinary scenes their present dc-
lightful harmony. On the very spot where the last de-
structive war was waged a number of flourishing Vii•
lages now stand, each of which has one or more schools,
and divine worship is regularly performed on Sun-
day, Wednesday, and Friday. Even in their uncon-
verted state, as already noticed, the manners of the SA' 4'l
moans, and their skill in the construction and manage-, 11.
ment of canoes, were greatly superior to those or
the Marquesan and the Society Islanders. Now there
is further observed a considerable degree of dignity in
their behaviour towards visitors and strangers rtt'
he
common dress of the men was formerly very slign
consisting of nothing more than a girdle of leaves,
while the women
.satisfied themselves with a shaggY
mat,
to thet,on‘vhiecxh tilnieymdatisteprlasyoedf
dress.ailthe ingenuity
penurietsyenPtee;
greater number wear decant wrappers of calico, present"
shirts and gowns ; and when they cannot afford these,
they. appear in garments of a coarse though not no:'
seenily cloth, manufactured from the bark of tree; , •
Formerly when vessels arrived, muskets and beads lic;n.
the articles most in demand; but now the prine,ir Bud
quiry is made for wearing apparel, slates, reel 'lndy
writing paper. The master of a whale ship te,ce.oup •
confessed that he had carried to the Navigators gljn
forty muskets for barter, and had only sold two. 0.
a word, the history of modern missions does not 51
viv S 0
or
ply a more powerful inducement to Christian ze3"h
e .
a more gratifying reward to the intrepiditY,
which their great objects have been pursued.
few
years ago, the European who casually landed on Oder, ~
islands, saw everywhere prevailing rapine, ultiiripart
cannibalism, and other crimes, at which his, in
sickened; at present, he may contemplate, at lell'ure,
the christianised districts morals comparativelY P
the exercise of a rational worship, peace,
and brotherly kindness, all heightened by the assernet
intercourse of social enjoyment.—Edinburel Cavi
Library, No. XXXIIL Polynesia. cohtidenreS

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THE M.

COAL M

Ships arrived since
d.
Buddle's West Hartley l7 8
Chester Main
Hastings Hartley ......, l6 6
riolywt.ll Main l7 U
Hebburn Slain
West Hanky
West Wylam l5 9
Walls End Clark tini Co.
WaLs End Elm Park.. lB 6
Walls End Heilley l9 6
Walls End Hilda lB
Walls End Killingworth
Walls End Riddell's
Walls End Belmont
W. E. Braddyll'sHetton
Walls End Harwell. ...... 21 0
Walls,End Raton 21 0
Walls End Lambton