CHAP II. Dissipated mode of life. with a tassel composed of the fibre of the cocoa-nut. It was then liberated, and being regarded as sacred, on account of its being offered to a god, it was allowed to feed where it pleased until it died a natural death. Perhaps it was owing in no small degree to the solemnity now described, as well as to the legend which respects the origin of their institution, that the areois passed their lives, esteemed by the people as a superior order of beings, closely allied to the gods, and deriving from them a license to perpetrate the various enormities which disgraced their whole body. Free from labour and care they roved from island to island, supported by the chiefs, or feasting on the plunder taken from the grounds of the poor husbandmen. Such, too, was the system of delusion connected with their superstition, that for them was reserved that Elysium which their mythology taught them to believe was provided in a future state of existence, for persons so distinguished by the favour of heaven. It is gratifying to add, that an institution which so long exerted a baneful influence over the minds of an ignorant indolent people, has already lost much of its Decay of the authority and many of its adherents. The purer mo system. rality of the gospel has put to shame their abominable practices; while the taste of the simple natives, already greatly refined by the more exalted nature of the pursuits to which they are now invited, begins to contemn the paltry amusements afforded by the areois, and to abhor the immoral principles on which they were founded. We are assured that some of those who were ringleaders in all the vice and cruelty connected with the system, are at present distinguished for their active benevolence and exemplary lives. One of the first deacons of the church at Huahine, and who, as a missionary to his heathen brethren, has proved an indefatigable, upright, intelligent man, was once the principal areoi in the island of Raiatea. CHAPTER III. On the Means employed for Improving the Inhabitants of the South Sea Islands, and more especially the Introduction of Christianity. Motives to Discovery-Exertions of Missionaries-Savage Life never spontaneously improved-Proceedings of Lieutenant Bligh at Otaheite-The Failure of Spanish Priests-Origin of Missionary Society-Sailing of the Duff-Landing of Missionaries-Different Views as to the Means of civilizing Barbarians-South America and Africa-First Efforts at Otaheite fruitless-Remarks of Kotzebue-Similar Opinions adopted by the Literary Journals-Benefits conferred by Means of Christian Missions-Abolition of Infanticide and human Sacrifices-Difficulties to be encountered-Brighter Prospects opened-Remark on the Qualifications of a Missionary. CONSIDERING the benevolent spirit which usually ani- CHAP. IIL mates the British public, it was not probable that dis- Maritime coveries so interesting as those which had crowned the discovery. efforts of Wallis, Byron, Carteret, and Cook, would be long allowed to remain unproductive of advantage to the inhabitants of the remote lands thereby brought to light. It was indeed the main object of the successive voyages that did much honour to the reign of George the Third, to increase and to diffuse knowledge, not only at home, but more especially among rude tribes in the most distant parts of the earth, who, it was hoped, might by such means be rescued from ignorance and superstition, and be made fit to share all the blessings of civilized existOn former occasions, the patrons of navigation had allowed themselves to be in no small degree influ SO ence. CHAP. III. enced by the prospect of acquiring vast treasures, of descrying new countries where their power might be established, or of improving commerce, whereby private wealth would be augmented, and the national resources enlarged. Columbus. Francis Such motives were at one time avowed in all the nations of Europe. The exertions of Columbus, for example, were stimulated not less by the love of glory than by the hope of adding to the magnificence of the monarchs who had countenanced his adventure. The path to India round the eastern Cape was discovered under the action of a similar impulse; and even when the English first touched the shores of North America, they thought not of the natives, whose condition might have excited their pity, but of the mines of gold with which they believed that the mountains every where abounded. In proportion as the mercantile spirit gained strength, the objects of the traveller and navigator became less pure ; and it was not till a period comparatively recent that the labours of the discoverer, whether by sea or land, were sanctified by the loftier aim of promoting science, or extending the benefits of religion. At an earlier period, and when as yet the desire to bring the heathen within the pale of salvation was recognised as the most sacred and the most powerful of all inducements that could lead men to act or to suffer, much toil was endured, and many dangers were braved by christian missionaries, who thought it not too much to travel on foot through savage countries, with the precepts of the gospel in their hands, and its warm benevolence in their hearts. No one can read, without admiration for his zeal and self-denial, the labours of Francis Xavier, who journeyed into far countries, and encountered all the perils incident to an unprotected residence among the fiercest barbarians, that he might convey the knowledge of the cross to the remotest provinces of India. Inspired by a generous love for mankind, and encouraged by the predictions of the Divine Author of his faith, the true Christian has at all times endeavoured to extend the influence of its humanizing doctrines and exalted CHAP. III. hopes to all the ends of the earth. The command of the Redeemer to propagate his religion was, in the first instance, cheerfully obeyed by the apostles, who, in defiance of the opposition that was marshalled against them, bore the message of truth and good-will into all the nations known in their days to the Greek or the Roman; and as the world became enlarged by new discoveries, their successors carried the same comfortable tidings far beyond the ancient boundaries of geographical science, into those regions where the sun was supposed to rise and set. tion of the Nor is there any reason to believe that the authority The propagaof Christ, though continually increasing, has yet ap- gospel. proached near to its utmost limits. On the contrary, the present state of the world affords a strong presumption, independently of the numerous predictions contained in the Bible, that the gospel will become the universal religion of mankind. Several christian states have for ages been sending forth large and flourishing colonies into every quarter of the globe: Mohammedans and heathens are not doing the same. Believers, wherever they can find admission, labour to make proselytes, whereas the adherents of other religions are either indifferent about their creeds, or proudly refuse to communicate the superior advantages which they suppose themselves to enjoy. Hence it becomes every year more and more manifest, that the kingdom of the Messiah, by the increase of its own subjects, and by the gradual accession of strangers, will, at no distant period, overspread the whole earth. ages of When the dark ages fell upon Europe, the views of the The middle faithful were narrowed, and their exertions paralysed. Europe. The apostolical example ceased to produce its wonted effect upon their minds; and yielding to the pressure of invasion which rolled down upon them from the North, the more civilized states deemed it enough to protect the archives of Christianity and the works of its greatest authors, in the sacred retreats of monastic life. All in The crusades. CHAP. II tercourse with distant countries was rendered impracticable by the barbarism which every where prevailed beyond the immediate vicinity of the two capitals of the East and West. In such circumstances, nothing could be effected by the most ardent spirit of charity or of secular enterprise. But no sooner did a way appear to be opened up beyond the limits of the empire, than the christian missionary resumed his holy office, and held himself prepared to follow either the track of the caravan through the Arabian desert, or the march of armies towards the confines of Upper Asia. The Crusades, again, more worthy of praise in their object than for the means adopted by those in whose zeal they had their origin, secured likewise a channel for the propagation of the true faith; and, though the peaceful lessons of the New Testament could not be harmoniously associated with such projects of conquest and revenge as carried too Imany of the soldiers of the cross into Palestine, an opportunity was afforded for renewing a communication with the interesting tribes between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates, to whom the blessings of Christianity were first offered. From that period down to the present day, endeavours, more or less wise, have been made to extend the knowledge of revealed truth to heathen lands; and the men of our own age, not less active than their predecessors, have witnessed results more gratifying perhaps than any which have crowned the labours of the church since the close of the third century. Missionary spirit of Christianity. The religion of Christ, whether viewed in its origin or early history, makes a claim upon all who profess faith in it, for an active dissemination of its light and hopes. Its first missionaries were instructed to go forth into all the world; and the name of apostles conferred upon them in the inspired writings, denoted at once the nature of their labours, and the delegated authority confided to them by their Divine Master. Most of those qualified to teach, obeyed the solemn injunction communicated to his personal disciples; and many others, who might not have opened their hearts to such motives, accomplished |