The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-01-04 00:00:00

ClUtLlZ.ifiu.V •OF THE NATIVRS OF vie
5017711 SEA ISLANDS.
[iRO4lll AN ACrOUNT OP THE PAOCIEDINGS OP TM
MISPIONARI as.]

TIIREIIII, Jems 21, 1821.
CIVILIKATION.—AS it respects the civil improve. ,
anent of the people, we have great reason to take en-
couragement. Wi.hin the last three or four menthe
we have been teaching and encouraging our people to
make bonnets and hats for themselves, out of • kind
of grass that grows here, and which answers the pur-
pose very well. And now, through the assistance of
livers Bourne and Darling, there is not • woman,
we believe, in the congregation without a bonnet, and
scarcely a man without a bat. Some of the natives
have begun. and many have promised, to build them-
selves new !looses, to he plastered within and without,
and to floor them with hoards. Almost every family
has got a large garden, in which they grow sugar-
eases, bananas, sweet potatoes, Indian corn, plunking,
water melons, some French beans, &c. But these are
all luxuries to the Tsheitan, as he can live very well
on his bread-fruit and fish, and which want no cul-
tivation.
New eltATlM—Another thing which calls for our
gratitude is, the ready manner in which the people
complied with our proposal to build a large place of
worship. It is boarded all round and floored with
hoards. There is a gallery at each end for the use of
the children,whiell is filled Sabbath-day. All the
'eats have barks ; and there is a large table-pew, pul-
pit, and clerk's desk. The place has flee doors, and
24 windows (not glazed) with sliding abutters. This
is the first chapel that has been finished in the Bngliah
style, and was done under the superintendence of Bro-
ther Darling.
The following interesting particulars respecting se-
.reral Islands, are borrowed from the Journal of the
Captain of the Hope:—" Captain Grimes anchored at
Hapapa, or Matavai Bay, Talseite, on the 28th of
.April, IS2I. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Hayward had ac-
companied him from Port Jackson. King Pomare
soon came on board, and was saluted with 13 guns.
Among other presents, he received two cows and
calves from a generous individual ; they were immedi-
ately landed, and were in a healthy state. The Cap-
tain states that a few days before the Annual May Meet-
ing, preparations began to be made. Huts were build-
ing, and those out of order were undergoing a repair,
to accommodate the numerous assemblage. Canoes
were daily arriving, laden with provisions, the sub-
scriptions of oil, /frac. The Missionaries also began
to assemble from the distant parts of the island.
" On the appointed day of meeting, the Chiefs
were arrayed in their best dresses, the soldiers were
under arms, and nothing omitted to exhibit the
grandeur of the king, Stc. At ten (a. Si.) the natives
collected in the building appropriated to that purpose
(which no doubt is a wonderful performance. if we
consider the means used in building, but the woad is
not sufficiently durable to insore Its standing is its pre-
sent state more than soother year or two) to the *um-
of 5.000 men, women and children included. The
soldiers were arranged without, under arms. The
affairs of the islands were now discussed with energy.
although, as is said, previously determined upon.
" The filissionaries also made some propositions
respecting their supplies of provisions. which bad
hero suspended. on account of a levy made by the
King. for a purchase of a ship, fee.; these were fully
acceded to. After this Divine Service was performed
by Messrs. Nott, Crook. Darling, and Bourne. The
natives were then urged to forward their intended sub-
scriptions of oil. hr. (for the vessel) with all possible
despatch. The natives then retired a very orderly
manner, and in • few days the village, from being
Vironged, was left with a very few inhabitants. On
the 234 the whole of the oil collected here was on
board ; and messengers were sent to different parts
to urge the natives to forward the oil in their pos-
sesaaion."