Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-12-21

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! and these open up the Gospel door or
endeavor TO establish a new field OF mis-
sionary labor among the inhabitants
which comprise almost FIVE thousand, or
more than one-loruth Of all the natives OF
the Tongan kingdom. With the depart.
ure OF the two Elders named, only four
missionaries will be left to "hold the
Tort on Tongatabu, but this is also con
sidered quite ample under the present
circumstances.
Wednesday, Aug 7sth. Aner the
days work at the mission house at
Mua, took stroll ou' through the
town and adjoining "bush," together
with Elder Alfred n. Durham. On our
walk we visited some peculiar ancient
works in the shape OF raised squares,
which the natives say are old native
burying grounds. one OF these squares
which Is regularly ierraced, measures
t2o feet In length by about % in breadth.
The terraces are three In number, built
on the same principle as the square
raised over the remains OF the late King
George at Nukualoia. At first one gas
led TO believe that the face OF ,ae ter.
races we're built OF huge rock one OF
which measured ~ feet in length by
about ieet IN width and breadth; but
on closer observation was inclined to
the belief That though hard as rock IL is
a sort oi concrete or cement compound,
which, as the centuries rolled BY be.
! came HARDENED, .sere are nearly a
score OF similar squares, though smaller
than the one described, IN the same
neighbofhood. We also visited two OF
the village gtayeyards The natives,
| alter making the proper excavation for
the reception OF dead body never re.
/ turns the dirt thrown out to the grave,
/ but after lowering the remains Of the
| dead, they Gil up the grave with clean
! white sand obtained from the sea shore.
This accounts lor the high ground which
distinguishes all native bufying grounds
in Tonga.
Thursday, Aug. 7glh. In reading
| William Mariners "1onga Islands" to
day, | was struck torcibly with the ap.
parent similarity between many Of the
characteristics, customs and habits Of
the Tongans and the American Indians.
which goes far to prove that their origin
is the same, that they all belong to The
same branch OF the human family. The
( old heather religion OF the Tongan was
based upon plurality Of Gods represent
ing both good and evil and some Of
/ which they conceived Of as eternal Gods
aud Others as more temporal delties.
In many respects the Tongan religion
was much akin to the Scandinavian
mythology, comprehending OdIn as the
chief temporal god, and number Of
other gods, representing war peace,
love, etc. There is a certain rock on the
island OF Huga (Hoonga) which is still
pointed out by the natives as the i'm.
mediate cause Of the origin OF the Ton.
gan Islands. ut happened once, before
these Islands we're IN existance," says
Mr.. Mariener "That one OF their gods
| CIangaloa) went out fishing with line
and hook, It CHANGED, however, that the
hook got fixed in rock at the bottom
oil the sea, and In consequence OF the
/ god pulling the line, he Grew up all the
| Tongan Islands, which they say would
have formed one great land, but the
line accidently breaking, the act was in.
| complete, and matters were left as they
now are. They show hole In the rock
about two feet In diameter, which quite
| periorates II, and In which Tangaloas
hook got fixed"
Friday, Aug. 3oth At J o'clock p. m.
Elders Durham, Walker, Jensen, Akin.
son, Shill, Leanard and myself boarded
/ the little mission boat, which has been
| christened "Hllatali, and sailed for the
Nukualoia side OF the lagoon. We we're
| going In to hold a meeting which had
been appointed In the capital for the
evening The wind being favorable,
we hau a most pleasant sail across the
lagoon, lasting little over one hour
As the boat glided swiftly over the face
| OF the water, the air was made to re-
| sound with the sweet songs Of Zioh, a
! number Of the brethren being good
| singers and members OF choirs when at
/ home. We also enjoyed the usual two.
mile walk through the trop-sl forest or
! bush and cocoa'nut groves, and ar
| rived AZ Nuhualoia at S p, NJ. W, at
/ once sat to work preparing the "ialekai, "
| or large dining hall, which the PRIMER"
Of the kingdom OF Tonga had granted
Us the use for the occasion. At 7:3o p.
M, the appointed hour Tor the lecture.
| about sixty people, including most OF
| the white inhabitants Of Nukalola aud
| lew from other places had assembled
and We commenced the first Latter day
| Saints meeting ever held IN the Tongan
capital Tor white people by singing,
Arise, q glorious Zion" ,etc., after
which Elder lanes X. Walker offered a
short prayer, and then the hymn IRE.
deemer OF Israel" etc., was sung.
| Next followed the lecture as advertised,
| by Elder Andrew Ienson OF Salt Lake
City who spoke an hour aud ten min,
utes on the history, religion, general
! characteristics etc., OF the Latter.day
Saints. lie was listened to with very
close attention aud apparent deep inter.
est throughout. THE Gospel standard
high is raised" etc was sung and bene-
dlclion offered by Elder Allied NJ. Dur
ham. Among those present who ex.
pressed themselves highly pleased with
the meeting was Wan. Freskow, the
German consul through whose influence
partly we had obtained the hail In which
TO give the lecture .A0cr the meeting
all we Elders wcnctd our way back
through the bush" the bright tropical
moon beamlng beautifully upon us and
lighting up our way, and at 10 p. m,
we again boarded our trusty little boat,
and pulled out for Mlua four miles away.
AS the wind bowed hard against us,
we had TO row all the way; but we en-.
loved IL, Tor we were a happy little
crowd, who felt truly thankful to the
Lord for having heard our prayers and
granted us a good meeting. After two
hours hard rowing against wind and
wave, we reached tue Mua shore and
cast anchor of The rear OF the mission
premises. We waded ashore, the tide
being out and the water consequently
too shallow for the boat to float into the
hide haibor or inlet. The still hour OF