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KEAUMOKU'S ZEAL FOR INSTRUCTION.

she would. He was not, however, thus to be put off, and told her plainly that she might do as she pleased, but, for his part, he should send all his men to be taught to read and write, and understand the great word. He proposes to build a large school-room immediately.-The evening was spent in prayer and Christian discourse at his house, and the Missionaries were requested to repair thither again by day-break to-morrow morning, to conduct family worship, which he says he is determined shall henceforth be daily performed under his roof. Upwards of sixty natives of rank were present, and all behaved with an affecting decorum which we have rarely seen at the public services.

Aug. 3. Keaumoku's example already produces some happy effect. The king has just been with us. After expressing high displeasure against those who are ever on the watch to ensnare him into drunkenness, folly, and violence, for their own mercenary ends, he declared that he and his chiefs would begin in earnest to learn to read next Monday, and that, when they had made some progress, all his subjects should be instructed.

CHAPTER XXII.

The King and Chiefs attend Divine Service-Royal Family learning to read-Anecdote-Juvenile Teachers-First Christian Marriage in the Sandwich Islands-Injunction against drinking ardent Spirits-Kamschatka Sledge-Watch-seal presented to Rihoriho-Deputation leave Oahu-Letter from Rihoriho to George IV.-Extracts from Auna's Journal in Hawaii.

Aug. 4. BEING Lord's day, the king and many of his principal people attended divine service. They were more becomingly dressed, and behaved with more decency than on any former occasion. Mr. Ellis's text was peculiarly appropriate at the present crisis, when symptoms of a favourable change are daily multiplying: "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him."-1 Kings xviii. 21. Again, in the afternoon, with equal felicity of application, our friend discoursed on those words of our blessed Saviour; -"Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live."-1 John v. 25. We cordially reply, "Amen; even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

Aug. 5. This being "Monday" the king was punctual to his promise. He and his family began to learn their alphabet like little children. Mr. Ellis and Mr. Bingham

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JUVENILE TEACHERS.

were engaged with them all the forenoon. Mr. Thurston and we (the Deputation) were at Keaumoku's. We attended again in the evening, and found all our scholars, old and young, diligently conning their lessons. This may be recorded as a great day for the Sandwich Islands. What was begun upon it may-nay, it must-influence, to an incalculable degree, the future state of all generations who shall dwell here, even to the end of time. We may quote a specimen of native teaching: Keaumoku, having made sufficient progress himself, was telling some of his people how to join a consonant with a vowel so as to produce a syllable; which he illustrated thus: "The consonant is Tani (the husband), and the vowel Vahine (the wife). Bring them together they become one, and they are something; alone, they are nothing."

Aug. 9. The king continues not only very diligent in learning himself, but, so far as he knows, in teaching others. He is, however, very careful to have somebody near him, to correct him when he goes wrong in leading the new way, lest his followers should err after him. The eagerness for instruction is so great that all the little boys in the school are, daily, during their play-hours, in requisition as masters. Three chiefs, men of magnificent stature and lofty bearing, came early this morning to obtain a kumu, or teacher. They could engage none but a child, six years of age, lisping over its spelling-book. Finding, however, that he could tell his letters, and repeat his ba, be, bi, bo, bu, one of them caught him up by the arm, mounted the little fellow upon his own broad shoulder, and carried him off in triumph, exclaiming, "This shall be my kumu!" The lads, themselves, take great delight in reciting their simple lessons to the older folks, and helping their fathers and mothers to say their A, B, C. It is beautiful to behold one of these little ones

FIRST CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE IN OAHU.

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standing up amidst a ring of grown people, with the eyes of all waiting upon him, earnestly hearkening to his words, and repeating them from his lips, that they may impress both the sounds and the import on their memory. Nor is the implicit confidence, with which they receive his instructions, delivered with the ingenuous gracefulness of boyhood in its prime, the least interesting circumstance connected with this "new thing in the earth.” Did our Saviour set

a child in the midst of his disciples, to teach them how they must receive the kingdom of heaven, and shall He not, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, here, both ordain strength and perfect praise?

Aug. 11. The first Christian marriage that ever took place in these heathen isles was celebrated this morning. Thomas Hopoo and Delia, both inmates with the Missionary family, joined hands, and avouched themselves husband and wife, before a large congregation. Mr. Bingham performed the ceremony, Mr. Ellis prayed, and we had the satisfaction to sign the register, as witnesses of the contract. Mr. Ellis afterwards preached from Rev. xxii. 17: “Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." At the close of the discourse a man said, “I shall take this and tie it up in my cloth;" alluding to the practice of binding up dollars, or any thing particularly valuable, in one end of their maro, the girdle about their waist, which is, indeed, the only clothing of most persons here.

Aug. 13. This day the King and Queen of Tauai, the Governor of Maui, and their retinue of chiefs and servants, consisting of nearly twelve hundred persons, sailed for the Leeward Islands, on board of two brigs and two schooners, the decks of which were so crowded that the people could scarcely find room even to stand. The object of their

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INJUNCTION AGAINST ARDENT SPIRITS.

majesties on this expedition was to receive homage and presents from their subjects, and to collect sandal-wood. They took several persons with them as teachers, and among others our companions from Huahine, Auna and his wife, of whom they promised to take the kindest care. On their departure Kaahumanu (the queen) left express commands to her people here to leave off drinking spirits. This injunction extended to Rihoriho himself, who is greatly under her influence. It will be recollected that she was one of the wives of his late father, Tamehameha. This royal ordonnance against drunkenness was proclaimed from house to house throughout the town of Honoruru by the public crier employed on great occasions. Though this may have no very extensive effect, yet it is a good omen, and cannot altogether fail.

Aug. 15. On board the Piddler, Captain Meek, we saw a curious sledge from Kamschatka, made to be drawn upon the snow and ice-tracts by four or six dogs. The animals are harnessed by their necks with leather straps, and, instead of being guided with reins, are preceded by another dog that is loose, to lead the way; his own course being directed to the right or the left by the sound of a rattle, which the driver uses as occasion requires. The sledge itself is of ingenious construction, hollow like a canoe, three feet and a half in length, twelve inches across, and fourteen high in the lower part, but thrice as much at each end. The rider sits with his back inclined against the after part, his legs thrown over the sides, but resting on a ledge beneath, while he holds by a thong extending from side to side of the front part. The dogs will travel at the rate of eight or nine miles an hour, drawing nearly ten hundred weight, including the driver and his luggage.

Aug. 16. The king having expressed great admiration of