anarchy.

it sails at the rate of twenty miles an hour. Before CHAP. VIII. the invasion of the Spaniards, they appear not to have been subjected to any regular form of government; every man assuming the privilege of vindicating his own rights, and avenging his own quarrels. Hence hostilities Their former frequently broke out among the inhabitants of different districts; but it is said their battles were not often sanguinary, usually terminating with the slaughter of the leading combatants. The population of Guam, however, has almost entirely disappeared. In the middle of the seventeenth century they were estimated at a hundred and fifty thousand, whereas, according to the latest accounts, not more than one family of the aboriginal race remained. Kotzebue relates, that when the subjects of Philip took possession of the Marians, most of the inhabitants fled to the Caroline group. "Could I have transported myself," says he, "back to the time when Magellan discovered these islands, the Rurick would long since have been surrounded by many canoes with happy islanders. This was not the case now; the introduction Extirpation of the christian religion has not diffused here its benign blessings, for since that time the whole race of the natives has been extirpated. We looked in vain for a canoe, or a man on the shore; and it almost seemed as if we were off an uninhabited island. The sight of this lovely country deeply affected me. Formerly these fertile valleys were the abode of a nation who passed their days in tranquil happiness; now, only the beautiful palm-trees remained to overshadow their graves: adeath-like silence every where prevailed."

Voyage of Discovery into the South Sea and Behring's Straits, by Otto Von Kotzebue, vol. ii. p. 231. In this work he calls the principal island Guahon, and its capital Aguna; but in his New Voyage," he writes it Agadna. By the Spaniards the one is spelled Guajam, and the other Agana. The Russian commander, whose descriptive powers have been more admired than his discretion, remarks, that the " scenery was very romantic, and seemed a paradise to us, after so long a voyage; and at the same time, the air, with its odoriferous perfumes, had such a beneficial influence on us, that we all felt ourselves

of the na

tives.

CHAP. VIII.

government.

The same navigator again visited the Ladrones in 1824, when he found that the happiness of the people was still A tyrannical farther diminished by the despotism or ignorance of a bad ruler, who was even accused of having put several English and American sailors to an unjust death. The Spanish government ordered his recall, and Medenilla, whose wise measures had given rise to unwonted prosperity, was again charged with the administration of that remote settlement.

The religion of the natives, when the islands were first discovered, was a destructive superstition, consisting, so far as principle was concerned, of the belief in a malignant demon, whom they were taught by their priests to appease through the medium of sacrifices the most painful and Heathenism revolting. But that worship gave way under the influence of the conquerors, who conferred upon them the knowledge of the true faith, which, when obscured by certain rites, however well calculated to occupy the attention of the rude mind, is very apt to degenerate into a modified idolatry. Images of the Virgin and

superseded

by Popery.

strengthened. The village of Massu consists of about fifteen houses, which are built in a straight line, and the spaces between them filled up with gardens. The structure is different from any thing we saw on our voyage. The house, which is from eight to ten feet square, rests on four pillars, raised five feet above the ground; the floors and walls are made of bamboo canes, which are placed so far apart from each other, that you can put your hand between them, which gives the whole house the appearance of a cage, where you may see every thing passing in the inside without entering. The construction is well adapted to the climate; the wind passes through the house, and cools and purifies the air; the roof, thatched with rushes, protects it against the rain, and the pillars against the vermin; but the appearance is extremely ludicrous, particularly if the family is in it. A large stone cross before the village, and a small one which they wear round the neck, showed the christian faith."-Vol. ii. p. 237.

Their canoes or proas, mentioned in the text, are convex on one side, and straight on the other. By joining two boats of the same size with a board, several islanders of the great Otdia have formed vessels which Sir Sidney Smith thought worthy of being introduced into the navies of Europe.-See Annual Register, 1805. Notice of the Experiments of Sir Sidney Smith, by Mr Boswell.

Spanish

Child replaced, very generally in the Philippines and CHAP. VIII. Ladrones, the hideous figures which the aboriginal savages had hewn out for themselves as representatives of those powerful spirits whose wrath they endeavoured to turn away, or whose favour they had resolved to purchase. In the days of Spanish adventure Zeal of in the South Sea, clergymen accompanied every discovery missionarics ship, with the view of disseminating the kindly seeds of the christian religion ; and there can be no doubt that wherever their exertions were directed to a proper field, they must have softened the temper of the natives, withdrawn them from the horrid ceremonies of their primeval superstition, and introduced among their fierce warriors the love of peace. But whatever may have been the fruits actually produced, the motives which influenced the missionaries were worthy of all praise; and, while we may regret that some attempt was not made to convey the knowledge of letters and the useful arts to their ignorant catechumens, we do not less highly appreciate the amount of the sacrifices they themselves consented to make, and the extreme sufferings which in many cases they were compelled to endure.

Guam is now the only island inhabited, and the popu- The island of lation, according to the latest accounts, amounted to about Guam. five thousand five hundred, consisting chiefly of settlers from Mexico and the Philippines. They are all Christians, and speak the Spanish language, but acknowledge no relationship to the original tribes whom they have displaced, though not a few, it is surmised, inherit their blood through the line of the female parent.

The Sand

CHAPTER IX.

Sandwich Islands.

Sandwich Islands discovered by Captain Cook-Visited by La Perouse Their geographical Position and Extent-Euterprise of the Chiefs-Seizure of an American Schooner-State in which Vancouver found the Natives-Rise of Tamehameha-He cedes to Vancouver the Sovereignty of the Islands -Trade with civilized Nations-Attempt made by Russians -Character of Tamehameha as a Reformer-Missionaries sent from America-Notice of Obookiah-The Way paved for Christianity by Rihoriho the young King-Taboo explained-Its Abolition-Supposed Motives of the Sovereign -The People admit the Change-An Attempt to revive Idolatry-Operations of the Missionaries, and Success-Religious Movement throughout the World-Chiefs devote themselves to the Study of Letters-King and Queen visit England, where they both die-Various Opinions as to the Effect of Christianity on the native Mind-Statements by Kotzebue, Lord Byron, and Captain Beechey-Funeral of the King and Queen-Laws recommended by Lord Byron-State of Society described - Great Good accomplished by Missionaries-Stewart's Journal-Vast Improvement in Manners and Accommodation-Palace, Guards, and Dress of the Court-Dedication of a Church-Progress of Luxury-Civilisation continues to advance-A “religious Awakening" in several Islands Cautious Behaviour of a Missionary-Remarks on such Occurrences.

CHAP. IX. Ir is well known that these islands were discovered, on the 18th January 1778, by Captain Cook, who named wich Islands them in honour of Earl Sandwich, at that time First Lord of the Admiralty. Eight years afterwards, they were visited by La Perouse, who landed at Mowee; and about

the same period, two vessels, engaged in the fur-trade CHAP. IX. on the north-western shores of America, procured refreshments at Woahoo. Other merchantmen are understood to have followed from time to time the same track; and hence a frequent and rather confidential intercourse was established between foreigners from various parts of the civilized world and the simple natives, who now began to set some value on the productions of their soil.

number.

The Sandwich Islands lie between the parallels of Their situa18° 24′ and 22° 15' north, extending in longitude from tombed 154° 56′ to 160° 23′ west. Their number is usually limited to ten; and the names by which, according to the latest orthography, they are known among the natives, are Hawaii (Owhyhee), Oahu, Maui, Tauai, Morokai, Ranai, Morokini, Nihau, Taura, and Tahurawe. They are distant about two thousand eight hundred miles from Mexico on the east, five thousand from the shores of China on the west, and two thousand seven hundred from the Society Islands on the south.*

islands.

Owhyhee, the most southern and largest of the whole, is about ninety-seven miles long, seventy-eight broad, and was supposed, when first discovered by the English, to contain eighty-five thousand inhabitants. Woahoo The several is forty-six miles in length, and twenty-three in breadth, with a population of about twenty thousand. Towee, situated seventy-five miles north-west from the latter, is somewhat smaller in dimensions, and is supposed to possess only ten thousand residents. Mowee is forty

For the reasons already assigned, we retain the more ancient spelling as being familiar to the general reader, though perfectly satisfied that the letter o prefixed to Hawaii and Tahiti is no part of either word, but simply the mark of a case. The missionaries state, that the names of the several islands ought to be written and pronounced as follows: