Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-04-14

bell sound which summons him to the
house of prayer. He loves to join the
chorus of devotion and to sit and lis
ten to that voice Of persuasion which
is lifted in the hearing of an assembled
multitude. He loves the retirement OF
this day, from the din of uorldly bust
ness and the inroads of acorldiy men.
He loves the leisure it brings along
with it; and sweet 10 his soul is the
exercise of that hallowed hour, where
there is no eye to witness him, but the
eye of Heaven; and where in solemn
audience with the Father, who seeth in
sacred, he can OH the wings OF celes-
tial contemplation, leave all the cares,
and all the yexations and all the secu-
larities of an alienated world behind
him.
FROM THE COAST OF JAPAN.
Extract Of letter from Capt. Richard Macy,
Master Of the UAaling Ship Marc, to Josiah
HuSsey, Esq. Of Nantucket,
COAST OF JAPAN, Aug. l6, 1924.
Suppressed with strong belief that
great numbers of sperm whales ex-
listed among the numerous Islands in
the Pacific, generally known as the So
ciety, Friendly, Fejee, and Caroline's
Islands, l resolved to spend 8 months
among those Islands. Is.eered first to
the Society Islands, where l proposed
to stop in order to procure wood and
water. The Island selected for that
purpose is called Eimen, and lies 90
miles West of Otaheite. / entered a
.harbor on the North side of the Isly,
and which is not to be surpassed for
access and safety, by any harbor in this
ocean. took my ship two miles up
this beautiful harbor entirely land
locked) and tied her to an old tree. The
scene that surrounded me was truly
romantic. The shores were covered
with all kinds of Tropical fruit, such as
oranges, lemons, lines, cocoanu1s,p ine-
apples, bananas, and plantains. The
beautiful mountains which encompass
the harbor, and exhibit lofty and ma
jestic appearance, commence within a
quarter Of mile from the shore, and
gradually ascend to the height of $500
feet, covered with trees, from the bot
tom to the top. found the natives
much more civilized than had antici-
pated.
There was at Eimen, missionary
families from England, who apparent
ly live up to their profession. | dined
or supped with them almost every day
during my stay, and was treated with
great kindness and hospitality; but you
will be surprised, when | tell you there
is scarcely native in the place, but
what can read or write. They have
passages of scripture printed in their
own language, and also hymn books,
which some of them can read as well
as can ours. LAY there one Sunday,
and went TO their church, where found
assembled about or 500 natives, all
decently dressed; all the females ma
tives) wore bonnets Of their own ma
nufacturing. There was as much good
order and regularity in their mode oil
worship, and particularly in singing
HYMNS and psalms as you will general
ly find in our churches.
Having procured every necessarily
weighed anchor on the 25th Of Decem-
Der, and proceeded to the westward a
mong the Friendly Islands. On the
Sd Of February, 1924, | discovered three
Islands, and as they are not laid down
on my chart, or in any book | have on
board. believe them to be a new dis
covery; in consequence of which have
given them the following names, viz:
Elizabeth's Island, lat. 81 o6 S. lon.
i7s SO w. Eunice Island, lat. 81 os ).
Ion. l7s AZ w. Mays Island, lat. 90
50 S. lon. IT'S AZ w. The lands OF
those Islands is very low, and the ma
vigation dangerous, as they are sur,
rounded with coral reefs which extend
some distance from them. The Is
lands are inhabited, and are covered
with cocoanut and other trees.
Several natives of one OF the friend
ly Islands came along side OF my ship,
their only object appeared to be trade,
as they never expressed any desire to
get on board. AS soon as they had
finished their business, they returned to
their shores, apparently much pleased.
They resembled the Sandwich Island
ers in their complexion, but are in
stare of nature. with the exception OF