The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-10-18
Cruise of the =. Morning STAR 10 rhc Kings
mill ard Caroline I-Inndi.


Captain Gele,t, Of the missionary packet Morning
Star, has, at our request, made cut the following re-
port Of the briggs fourth voyage TO Micronesia.
We left Honolulu June sth. 1860. our first stopping
place being Apaiang, OF the Kings Mil Islands, At
which place We arrived on Friday. 22l- The mi>ssona-
r.-~, the Rev. Hiram. Bingham, with his Hawaiian
assistants, Mr.. M.boe and Mr.. Kauoa, met us near
the entrance o. the lagoon. and I need not say that
We received a hearty and cordial welcome. They
were all in comfortable health. although Mr.. and
Mrs Bingham were looking samewha, worn ty their
labor< Mr.. Bingham was much pleased 90 find that
[ had brought his long looked FIR si. boat, which
hal been ordered from Boston. and with which he
intends 10 visit the ueighboring islands, and thus ex-
tend hi missionary operations. The services On the
Sabbath were mos; interesting; the house was well
filed. though not with the most orderly o: congreEa-
tions. The King was present, a. be usually J., and
he Is a noble specimen Of his ;ribe-tall, straight and
well proportional, AMI would probably weigh from
900 TO 400 pounds. He Is anxious 70 learn TO reai,
aud in the Sabbath school, | heard him repeat his
alphabet e. Mr.. Bingham. u whom he has thus far
proved a constant friend. The children were, how
ever, the most interesting part Of the congregation,
and il was pleasant to see them rs they were seated
on their mats in front Of Mrs. Il. watching her with
their bright eyes, and endeavoring TO catch and imi-
tate the sound Of her voice They appear strongly
attached to their teachers, who, in their turn, are as
strongly attached 70 them. An examination Of the
day school was held on the day before We left. Quite
a number Of prizes were awarded to those who ex-
cslled in their different branches of study. Many Of
them can read and write, and | was much surprised
at their geographical knowledge.
We left Apaiaug for Ebon on the Doth, Mr.. and
Mrs. Bingham taking passage with is, also Mr.. Ma
hoe with his wife and child. We reached Ebon July
4th, and found the missionaries all in good health
excepting DIR. Gulick, who had been unwell for a long
time. As the wind was not favorable for entering the
lagoon, | thought it best to make short stop, hoping
for a better opportunity on the return trip The
mission stores were landed while the brig was lying
eff and on, and on the following day we shaped our
course for Strong 5 Island, taking DIR. Gulick along
with US. On the Sth, at sunset, saw the lofty peaks
of Strong's Island. and next morning entered the
weather harbor. which is the station of Rev. b. &.
Snow. whom we found in good health.
While here two large canoes arrived FROM Meas
kvl's Island. having touched ut WellinCton's Island
on the way. The distance from Wellington's Island
to Strong's Island is about 100 miles, and although
a deal beat to windward, was performed in five days,
without a compass or nautical instruments OF any
kind. The two canoes contained upwards of forty
persons. men. women and children, and were bound
on to the Marshall Islands. n distance of some 800
miles still farther TO windward. l lent them a COM
pass, AMI DR. Gulick who was somewhat acquainted
with their language, explained its use, at which they
were very much astonished, but pointed out an cid
bushy-headed veteran, whose eyes looked out from
under his shaggy locks, saying that his head was
.saIl same rs compass They waited some two
weeks for a fair wind, but not getting it, and becom-
ing tired. they finally started with the fresh trades
blowing directly ahead. | mention this to illustrate
the enterprising character of the people and the fear
lessness with which they voyage about from island to
island, although many OF them are hundreds OF miles
apart. We left Strong's Island for Ascension on the
10th Of July, and reached il on the goth. where the
general meeting Of the mission was held. partly Mt
the weather harbor-the station of Rev. L. p. Roberts,
and partly in the lee harbor, the station Of Rev. ~.
Sturges. Neither the Rev. +. I. Doane. Of Ebon, or
Rev. II. G.. Snow, of Strong's Island, were present at
the meeting, which was continued for some ten days.
We left Ascension, on the return voyage, on the 9th
Of August, and on the 18th touched ut Strong's Is
land. We left again on the next day. and on the 18th
arrived at Ebon, but although the wind had been fair
for entering the lagoon until We reached the island,
which was in the evening, before morning it was
again ahead and we found it too dangerous to go in
We lay off and on four days, spending the Sabbath
with Rev. Mr.. Doane and giving DR.. Gulick time 10
complete his arrangements for visiting the Sandwich
islands for his health.
Mr.. Doane's congregation on the Sabbath was large
AMI very attentive, and his prospects for usefulness
seem 10 be very encouraging. While here we landet
three natives Of the island, who had been kidnapped
n few months previously by the ship .NOcte=uUsg,
Capt. Tinker. but had succeeded in escapingIrom his
shin nj Ascension. The poor fellows were O~verjOysd
10 yet back 10 their home again, and the king aud
chiefs expressed much gratitude to us for returning
them. Such acts Of lawlessness as this are danger
Gus rs well rs wrong, and may result IN fearful retTl-
button upon innocent heads We sailed for Apaiaag
on the 22i, reaching that place on the oOth where We
remained FIVE days. leaving Sept. 4th, and reached
Tlrawa the same day, where we left the Rev. MI
Mahoe, of Apaiang, and Mr.. Hama, who came wish
Us from Honolulu. Mr.. Ala, our other passengers
from Honolulu. was left AT Ebon. The chiefs ami
people of Tarawa were very much pleased at 1.-THE locs-
ton Of missionaries among them, and promised them
protection and kind treatment. The entrance to the
lagoon at this island is on the west side, about lire
miles north of the southwest point, and is marked by
a blue water channel, which is deep and safe abont
! of a mile wide, and three fathoms of water may De
found on the reef anywhere within half a mile north
of IL.
The Morning star has been gladly welcomed by
both the chiefs and people of all the islands and
groups we have visited. and so far from her being III
danger among these savage tribes, l am conhdenG
tney would willingly take up arms in her defense.
She IS becoming well-knOwn in all that part of the
Pacific, and j. everywhere hailed as the messenger Of
peace. | am under obligations to Capt. Randall, o.
the British trading brig Sarah INN, whose kindness
to the missionaries and honorable conduct and dell-
ings among the natives, have won for him the respect
Of all who know him. He has been for many years :
cocoanut oil trader among the Kings MIL Island
and has an extended influence with both chiefs and
people. My intercourse with the missionaries has
uniformly been Of a pleasant character during the
VOYAGE. and ! would here express my gratitude for
the many kindnesses | have received at their hands.
We left Tarawa on the 18th of September, and after
a pleasant passage, arrived here on the l2th inst,
having made the voyage in four months and four
davs. Yours truly,
Honolulu, O;t. Is, 1869 c. W. GELETT.
Sprtj2I slOtitrs.