CHILDREN OF MISSIONARIES. 203 piety and talent have access to its advantages, and it is designed as preparatory to a seminary for training native pastors to fill different stations in the South Sea islands. It is an important institution, and will, it is hoped, exert no ordinary influence on the future character of the nation at large, as well as prove highly advantageous to the individuals who become its inmates. It merits the countenance of the friends of missions. Several individuals have kindly enriched its library with suitable elementary books, philosophical apparatus, &c., but these are still very inadequate to the accomplishment of the design contemplated. But while the establishment of this institution is a just occasion of gratitude to the missionaries, it does not remove anxiety from their minds with regard to the future prospects of their families. The nature of their station, and the spirit and principles of their office as ministers of Christ, prevent the parents from making any provision for their families. The proper settlement of their children is an object of most anxious solicitude to Christian parents at home-to foreign missionaries it is peculiarly so. Their remote and isolated situation precludes their embracing those openings in Divine Providence for placing their children in suitable circumstances, of which they might avail themselves in Christian and civilized society. The prospects of filling comfortable stations there, are all uncertain; professions there are none; commerce is in its infancy, as will appear from the fact of its being still carried on by exchange or barter. circulation of money is very limited, and its use known to but few. The The fondest hope of every missionary is, that his children may grow up in the fear of God, be made partakers of his grace, and, under the constraining influence of the love of Christ in their hearts, imbibe their parent's spirit, select his office, spend their lives in supplying his lack of service, and carrying on that work which he has been honoured to commence. In prosecuting this, they will have advantages their parents never possessed; they will have been identified with the people among whom they labour, and will not appear in language and idiom as foreigners; but they will labour under more than counteracting disadvantages, if they never visit the land of their fathers, and must necessarily be far less efficient teachers of the truths of Christianity than their predecessors in the work. There are a thousand things known to an individual who has received or finished his education and passed his early days in England, which can only be known under corresponding circumstances, and which a missionary can never, in such situations as the South Sea islands, teach his child. Those born there may indeed have access to English literature; but many books, however familiar and perspicuous to an ordinary English reader, will, in many perhaps important parts,. appear enigmatical to those who have never seen any other society than such as that now under consideration. It has always appeared to me, in reference to an uncivilized, illiterate people, who are to be raised from ignorance, barbarism, and idolatry, to a state of intelligence, enjoyment, and piety-where their character, habits, taste, and opinions have to be formed principally, if not entirely, by the missionary-that for some generations at least, every missionary's child, trained for the missionary work even by a father's hand, and blessed with the grace of God, ought to finish his education in the land of his parents, prior to entering upon the work to which his life is devoted. Many a missionary spends the greater part of his life without being able to produce any powerful or favourable impression upon the people among whom he has laboured; others expire in a field on which they have bestowed fervent prayer, tears, and toil, but from which no fruit has been gathered; the second generation have to commence their labours under circumstances corresponding with those under which their predecessors began. When success attends their efforts, and a change takes place decisive and extensive as that which has occurred in the South Sea islands; yet so mighty is the work, so deep the prejudices, so difficult to be overcome are evil habits, and so slow the process of improvement upon a broad scale, even under the most favourable circumstances, that the ordinary period of a missionary's life in actual service is too short to raise them from their wretchedness to a standard in morals, habits, intelligence, and stability in religion, at which those who were instrumental in originating their emancipation would desire to leave them. They never can CHILDREN OF MISSIONARIES. 205 be expected to advance beyond those who are their models, their preceptors, and their guides; and if the successors of the first missionaries be in any respect inferior to their predecessors, the progress of the nation must, in regard to improvement, be retrograde-unless this deficiency be supplied from some other source. On this account, it does appear exceedingly desirable that the successors to the first missionaries among an uncivilized people, who may even renounce idolatry, should be in every respect equally qualified for this office with those by whom they were preceded, and that even the children of the missionaries should be able to carry on, to a greater degree of perfection, that work which their parents were privileged to commence. I am aware that the expense attending a measure of this kind will probably prevent its adoption in those institutions by whom the first missionaries are sent out; but this does not render the measure less desirable or important in its immediate or remote and permanent influence upon the converted nations. The same difficulties occur with regard to the promotion of civilization, and the culture of the mechanic arts, among the barbarous nations. The primary design of all missionary contributions is the communication of Christianity to the heathen; and it is to be regretted that the smallest portion of the pecuniary means furnished by Christian liberality for this purpose, should be appropriated to any other purpose than the direct promulgation of the gospel. The difficulties already alluded to, connected with the missionary stations, are not the only ones that exist. They would operate powerfully, supposing the children were all that the parents could wish; supposing they were qualified by talent, disposed by deliberate choice, and prepared by Divine grace for the work of Christian missionaries; but these indispensable requisites, it is unnecessary to remark, a parent, with all his solicitude and care, cannot always secure. God may see fit to withhold those decisive evidences of genuine piety, without which the fondest parent would tremble at the idea of introducing even his own child into the sacred office of an evangelist. However missionary pursuits may have been accounted the honour, or have proved the happiness of the parent, the child, as he grows up, may not even possess a desire to engage in the same: that desire the parent cannot give; and, without it, it would, from every consideration, be both cruel and injurious to urge it. The alternative is most distressing to contemplate. There are at present no situations of comfort to fill, no trade or business that can be followed. Productive plantations, regular labour, mercantile establishments, warehouses, and shops, it is to be expected, will ultimately exist and flourish in these islands; but they cannot be looked for in the short period of fifteen years from the time when the people emerged from gross ignorance, inveterate vice, and the most enervating and dissipating idleness. The circumstances of the female branches of the mission families are, perhaps, still more discouraging. I have extended these remarks much beyond what I intended, when speaking of the South Sea Academy; and although they may be less interesting to the general reader than other matters, they will serve to show what are some of the trials of a missionary life among an uncivilized people. They may also not only awaken the sympathies of the friends of missionaries, but lead to such a consideration of the subject as may result in the suggestion or application of a remedy, which, if it shall not altogether remove them, will at least alleviate their pressure: which is, perhaps, felt more heavily by the present generation than it will be by their suc cessors. CHAPTER X. Voyage to Borabora--Appearance of the settlement-Description of the island-Geology-Opening of the new place of worship-Visit of the Dauntless-Arrival of the Mermaid-Designation of native missionariesVoyage to the Sandwich Islands-Interview between the prince of Tahaa and the princess of Tahiti-Marriage of Pomare and Aimata--Dress of the parties, and appearance of the attendants--Christian marriage--Advantageous results--Female occupations--Embarkation for England--Visit to Fa-re--Improvement of the settlement-Visit to Rurutu and RaivavaiFinal departure from the South Sea islands. MR. ORSMOND, who removed to Raiatea in the close of the year 1818, was accompanied by Mrs. Orsmond, who, in the communication of useful instruction to her own sex, and in every other department of female mis EMBARKATION FOR BORABORA. 207 sionary labour, was indefatigable until her decease, which took place very soon after her removal from Huahine. In November, 1820, nearly two years after this, Mr. Orsmond, in compliance with the urgent request of the chiefs and people, removed to the island of Borabora, where he established a mission, and continued his valuable labours till required, by the united voice of the missionaries in the windward and leeward islands, to take charge of the academy founded at Eimeo in 1824. During the year 1821, the inhabitants of Borabora erected a substantial place of worship; and in the beginning of 1822, according to a previous engagement with Mr. Orsmond, I visited the island for the purpose of preaching at the opening of the new chapel. Indisposition detained Mr. Bennet at Huahine, but the late Rev. D. Tyerman, his colleague, kindly accompanied him. On the 24th of January we repaired to the beach soon after ten, but heavy rains detained us until nearly two, when we embarked for Raiatea. The afternoon was calm, but about sunset a light breeze came from the south-west. It soon, however, died away, while a heavy swell running in a north-easterly direction, continuing, not only rendered rowing more laborious, but materially impeded our progress. Soon after ten at night we entered within the reefs at Tipaemau, having rowed nearly thirty miles. Landing at Avera, the shore opposite the opening, our people climbed some cocoanut trees, and, having taken refreshment, we held on our way within the reefs. The land-breeze gently filling our sails, Mr. Tyerman and myself fell asleep in the boat and I suppose several of the people did the same, for soon after midnight we were awaked by the boat's being aground near the Avapiti. It was soon pushed into deeper water; and as the wind was light, the oars were manned, and, about an hour before daybreak, we landed at the settlement, and entered Mr. Threlkeld's house, the doors of which were unfastened. We were shortly afterward welcomed by our friends, who prepared us an early breakfast, by no means unacceptable, as we had taken no refreshment since leaving Huahine on the preceding day. Here we spent the Sabbath, pleased with the numbers and attention of the assemblies for worship. At the close of the native services, |