Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-06-01
From the ". Y. Commercial Advertiser.

From the ~ Y. Commercial Advertiser
Fiaal extinction Of Iaot1try in the nd,oict Islands
The last number of the Quarterly Review contains
an article on the subject OF the Sandwich Islands, which
We should have read with unminged pleasure but for
pitifu malicious and undeserved attack upon the
mercan Missionaries stationed there equally uncall-
ed for and untrue, shall show the moment we
havea spare column. In the mean time, will glance
ht brighter page OF the interesting article before u.s.
il is review of the journal of the Bev. Dir. Boxcm
chaplain OF the British ship Blonde, captain Lord By.
ron during his lcrdshp's veil known voyage 20 the
S1ndw'ch Islands, in !32t-25; and also of The Rev
Mr. Ellis narrative Though those islands, during his
recent mission TO that groupe. Ga his from the
Sandwich Islands, MIR. Ellis visited this country and
his narrative, either entire, by the OF reviews
and copous extracts, has become familiar TO The Amer
iean public, also through other channels has much
of the history and traditions Of the islanders
When the national idoiatry of these islands was rub
lcly abolished in te year 1919, the priests ofhe fire
gods made struggle to maintain their ground
aud they openly denounced the awful thresteniBgs
OF earthquakes and volcanic eruptons in revenge they
said for The insult offered to the national religion by
the kings and Chiefs 1t will readily be supposed that
the mass OF the people unable rid themselves AT
once of the many deep rooted superstons which had
grown up with their growth: above all others il was
bard to drive out the dreams connected with the active
and terrific volcanoes of these islands, and the fire rods
supposed 10 dwell in tie midst OF them. The goddess
Pele who presies the internal fires is supposed
have exacted from the first pair who landed on O.
Uhyhee, such offerings they had 10 presc.s and
when she burst forth from her abode in streams OF bur
uinS lava she was pTopitlated by throwing hogs, aud
sometimes infant, into the liquid flame This idola-
trous wOrsipis more; it the last and most
powerful that remained, and IFS abolition was al length
effected DIR. Bloxom, tells US, by of the great
est acts Of moral courage which has perhaps ever been
performed; the actor woman, and as we are plea
sed TO call her, savsge.n
kairauea, tue terrific abode of,he goddess OF subter-
rancUns fires, and the largest ~ most extraordinary
voi,anc crater the face of the Globe has already
bced described to Of readers, i'm the glowing
and elo1nen language of a letter from the Rev BIr
stewart written to before his departure from those
Islands, and published in this paper in June last But
rs we have bad tue pleasure of entering several hun
dred names upon our books since that period brief
recapulati0n may not be improper here as perciance
IT may iinpart information TO some, while il refresbcs
the recolecons of others. This vast and terrible vol
cauo them is situated in the midst of plain or rs
miles In circumference, tie whole surface Of which
sunk from two to four hundred feet below its original
level, appears rent into deep chasms out of which CO
Iumns Of fame smoke and vspour are continually as
cending; here and there few beds Of sulphur, and
black pools Of fresh diversity without diminishing
the savsgenass of the Ii is thus described by
Mr.. Ellis.
fAfer walking some distance on the sunken plain,
which in several places sounded hollow under feet
we at length came TO the edge of the great crater
when spectacle sublime and even appalling, presen-
Sod itself before us
I'VE stopped and !.cmb.%d."