at Tahiti. He is evidently well-informed on the subject, and the testimony which he bears is deeply affecting as it regards the sufferers, and by no means honourable as it respects the Peruvian Government.

"Fifteen hundred natives of Polynesia have been here imported and sold (at Peru). At the hotel where I resided there is a boy employed in the kitchen; and an American woman, residing in the house, has a little girl of about four years old, for which she paid sixty piastres. The mortality amongst them is very great, especially on the sugar cane and on the rice plantations. They are there attacked by the dysentery, and die rapidly. On one estate alone seventy-five were thus carried off. Their treatment is nearly the same as that of the negroes in the time of slavery. They are given something to eat and drink because they have cost money; but they are beaten when they do not work, and as that is altogether contrary to their habits and their thoughts, a great number have died under the blows inflicted upon them. (Il en est tombe un grand nombre sous les coups de fouet.)

"Nothing can be done with the women; they absolutely refuse to work. It is something really sad to see people sold like beasts, who can read their Bible, who know how to write, and who are, in some respects, superior to their masters. If the labours of the missionaries for the good of these people are to have no other results, they might leave off preaching the Gospel.

"I am proud to say that I have done all I can to dissuade those who have lent themselves to this shameful traffic from having anything further to do with it. I have pointed out to them the risks which they run, and the difficulties of the enter prise, but all that has been thrown away. Every Polynesian (natural) was worth two hundred piastres; that was all they cared about.

"Pressing solicitations have been addressed to me to embark in this trade; the slight knowledge which I have of the Islands appeared, to people who have not the smallest idea of the matter, an important advantage. They wanted to charter our ships, of which we had four in the harbour, but I remained deaf to these propositions. I was already too indignant at the thought that the ships of my own nation, and those of France, have not seized upon these slave ships (negriers) even in the Bay of Callao, and sent the unfortunate victims back to their own country.

"I have learned with much pleasure that measures have been taken at Tahiti to put a stop to these doings, and to capture the ships that are engaged in it. I hope that France will insist that the islanders that have been carried off shall be taken back to their homes.

"If a French ship of war were to give the least encouragement, many of the Polynesians would conceal themselves during the night, and get off by swimming. For this there ought to be an intelligent islander on the spot who might be capable of giving advice to the others-some one, for example, sent by the Queen (Pomare)."

We extract also the following from another letter from the same gentleman, written from Lima on the 24th February, 1863:

"Since my last letter, of the 9th instant, which I fear may not have arrived in time to go by the 'Peapea,' at Payta, two other ships have arrived with islanders, and their success in eluding the French ships of war has had such an effect that

others are on the point of departure with the same end in view. One ship left a few days since. You may be sure that they will keep at a respectable distance from Tahiti, for Captain Penny, of the Barbara Gomez,' has come back, and has reported all that has occurred in regard to the detention of the 'Serpiente Marina.'

"The only way to make a good capture is to examine them when they are nearing Callao. The number of persons who are to be seen on the decks is a certain index. The capture of some ships will put an end to all these proceedings; but up to this time they are quite determined to continue their traffic, taking care to keep as far as possible from Tahiti. If some of these poor devils could be taken home and conducted from one island to another, that would suffice to prevent the continuance of this immigration, for the story they would recount would be so lamentable that they would prevent all the others from coming here, or even, from that time forward, from trusting themselves on board any ship. Many of these people are employed on field work, for which they have no aptitude, and so they fall, in a very short time, victims to fever, dysentery, and other maladies occasioned by a change of climate. Some of their owners are exceedingly brutal, and beat them severely.

"Seeing the sufferings of these poor people, a man must have a heart of stone or be without a conscience who engages in such a traffic. It would be better at once to throw open the African slave trade.

"Two ships have been lost at Humphrey's Island, near the Penrhyn Isles. We are informed that Easter Island is almost depopulated. A Spanish ship is engaged in the trade, and a Guayaquil company have obtained the exclusive privilege of importing Kanakas. They have sent an armed brig in quest of a cargo.

"I hope sincerely that the local authorities at Tahiti will be in a position to take some of the ships which are sent to look for islanders. At this moment there are at least a dozen in your waters. The Government here shuts its eyes to the whole thing."

The Editor of a Peruvian journal gives expression to the following reflections on the new form of slavery perpetrated by his countrymen; and, although uninfluenced by the higher considerations of religion, yet, upon the principles of sound policy and commercial advantage, he condemns the proceeding and deprecates its continuance.

"Divers ships sent to fetch Polynesians have been detained by the French authorities in Oceania. The foreign press has considered the commerce in regard to these men as a new kind of slave trade, and the credit of the country has thereby suffered so much, that we fear, with or without reason, this matter may be the means of occasioning serious conflicts for Peru. Thus, then, even supposing that the introduction of Polynesians were very serviceable, it would be desirable to renounce it with a view to sparing us the international complications which it may bring upon us, and the antipathies which it may excite against us. The greater part of these people are accustomed to live upon the fruits of the earth spontaneously afforded by nature, and from this arises their horror of work. What, then, can our agriculture have to gain from men who know nothing, who have no aspirations, and whom force alone can compel to gain, by the sweat of their brow, bread, and the money that buys it for them? If the labour of savages could be utilized, verily it would not be necessary to go and seek for it in Oceania; we have enough of it even in our own territory, which it would be very easy to draw out of their parts of the

country in order to transport them to our cities, or into those localities which we cultivate. The Morocochas, and those tribes who inhabit the banks of the Amazon, are in no way inferior to the Polynesians.

"There are, nevertheless, considerations of another kind which prove, quite as much as those we have already shown, how necessary it is to prohibit the introduction of Polynesians. The mortality of these people is very great; a large number have been in the hospitals, and but few are cured, in spite of the greatest care. Is it possible that our Government consents that these poor creatures should be dragged from their islands to be conducted to an almost certain death? And may not our inhuman want of foresight be the means of bringing upon us an epidemic which will deprive us of our really useful labourers?

"And our Government has not merely laid itself open to the commission of errors; it has committed a very grave fault in authorizing the importation of Polynesians, and it commits a still more serious one in giving a passive acquiescence to that new form in which slavery now shows itself. Let it draw back in time, and so save the permanent interests of the country and the national honour. It is a shameful contradiction that a country which knew how to clear herself by the payment of gold from the leprosy of slavery, should accept it under another shape, and one which causes so much evil."

The following is from the "Commercio" of Lima, republished, as it is understood, in one of the Chilian papers :

"The vessels sent into Oceania to fetch labourers for agricultural purposes continue to arrive daily. The Adelaint' arrived on Saturday from the Penrhyn Isles, in fifty days; she brings 202 persons, of which 77 are men, 78 women, 15 boys, and 33 little children. Two arrived yesterday: the national brig‘Carolina,' from the Island of Oroa, after twenty-eight days' passage, with 122 labourers; and the national schooner Hermosa Dolores,' from Easter Island, iu twenty-nine days, with 160 Polynesians; amongst these are 138 men, the rest are women. The labourers arriving by the last named ship have been forwarded by her from other vessels; fifteen were sent on by the captain of the 'Guillermo,' twenty by the 'Micacla Miranda,' and forty-five by the Rosa Patricia,' the rest belong to the ships Jose Castro,' Rosa y Carmen,' and 'Cora'-all of which were likewise at anchor off Easter Island at the time that the Hermosa Dolores' sailed.

"It seems that the inhabitants of the said island (Easter Island) refused to go on board, frightened by the lies palmed off upon them by the traders who last paid them a visit. The terror of the natives is so great, that they not only abstain from visiting the ships, but have even retired into the interior, having set fire to the lands in the neighbourhood of the shore. This is why the six ships above named found themselves obliged to give it up and continue their voyage."

SOUTH SEAS.

SAVAGE ISLAND.

WE have received from the REV. W. G. LAWES, our devoted Missionary on SAVAGE ISLAND, the following communication, full of deep and painful interest. It contains a very gratifying report of the progress of the Gospel, and the increase of the native Christians in that island; and the entire

statement may, indeed, be regarded as equally wonderful and delightful, demanding special praise to the God of all grace for His wonderful works of mercy and love, and for the ample recompense vouchsafed to the labours of His servants.

But, on the other hand, our friends will read, with feelings of the deepest sorrow, the statements of Mr. Lawes, in reference to the unprincipled and cruel conduct of the Peruvian slavers, and the artifices and violence employed in carrying off great numbers of Christian natives, who are now among the captives in a distant land.

Savage Island, May 29th, 1863. "Dear Sir,-No opportunity of sending letters has occurred for some months, or I should have written to you before. We have no weekly, or even monthly mail on Savage Island. Only once a year do we receive English letters; and only once a year are we sure of an opportunity of sending letters home. Yours of July 19th reached us here on the 6th December last; this is the first and only letter we have received from Blomfield Street since leaving England. It is now more than a year since Mr. Pratt left us. Upon a review of this first year of real Missionary life, we can but rejoice that God has led us to Savage Island, and praise Him whose goodness and mercy has followed us until now.

DEATH OF THE FATHER OF THE MISSION.

"The work of God is still prospering on this once dark, cruel land. During the last six months the Mission here has sustained losses and experienced severe trials. "You will be grieved to hear of the death of the father and founder of the Mission on this island-the Samoan teacher, Paulo. On the 7th of February last, he calmly, peacefully fell asleep in Jesus.' He was in the prime of life, and we had hoped he would long be spared to carry on the work he so successfully began, but the Master called him. Paulo's gain is our loss. I cannot tell you how great a loss we have sustained in his removal. He was a noble specimen of a native teacher; he was faithful and discreet in his work, humble and prayerful in his life, and loving and beloved in his home; he spoke the language like a native, and in the translation of the Scriptures was an invaluable pundit. Few men have been so blessed in their work for Christ as was Paulo. While many have toiled and toiled, and gone down to the grave uncheered by the sight of fruit, he had the happiness to see an abundant harvest as the result, under God, of his labours. In October, 1849, he landed, amongst savages, many of whom were clamouring for his life; and in February, 1863 he departed from a land which has not an avowed heathen, and was mourned over by the whole population. His death became his life. His end was as peaceful as had been his life. Upon my asking him how he felt in the prospect of death, he replied, If it be God's will, it is good; my trust is in Jesus.' His wife and children are now waiting for the John Williams' to return to Samoa.

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TREACHEROUS CONDUCT OF PERUVIAN SLAVERS.

But our severest trial has been the perfidy and cruelty of white men. A new trade has lately sprung up in Polynesia, exceeding in cruelty the obnoxious sandalwood trade. Many vessels are now afloat, who trade in human souls. Peruvian slavers they may in truth be called. By treachery they induce the natives to go on board, and then carry them off by force. About one hundred and thirty of our finest

young men have thus been carried off forcibly from their land, their wives, and families. This number includes twenty church members, one deacon, and three assistant-teachers. The above number does not at all represent our loss. Those taken were the strength, flower, and hope of their land. It is supposed they are taken to work in the Guano Islands, where a few months terminate their life. Many of the particulars of the visits of these vessels are most painful. One came here last January, and a number of canoes went off with pigs, fowls, yams, &c., to sell. They were told that nothing would be bought on deck, but they would sell everything if they went below. The unsuspecting natives took their things below, and immediately the hatchways were fastened, and the ship stood out to sea with forty stolen men on board. In March another paid us a visit. The natives were afraid to go off; only one canoe went, and that one with two assistant-teachers, taking a letter to the captain. It afterwards transpired that these were seized upon reaching the ship, and put in irons. In the meantime a boat came and a man landed. He said they were bound to Sydney with a cargo of oil, but came here to beg some medicine for the captain, who was very ill with dysentery. This disarmed suspicion, and several canoes went off,- -some to look for the canoe that had not returned, and others to trade. These no sooner reached the ship than some were seized and others fired upon. Unarmed and unsuspecting, the poor natives were fired upon many times by the white wretches. One young man, a church member, was shot through the head and fell dead in his canoe. Nearly two hundred have been left widows or orphans. The three assistant-teachers were very hopeful young men, daily growing in light and strength. They were very useful in the schools and out-stations, and relieved me of many of those things which would interfere with the more important work of preaching and translation.

"These things have tried the faith of our people; but they have come off victo rious, purified, and strengthened, we hope, by the trial. On the morning after the murder of the young man, we held a prayer meeting, and an old warrior, who in old times would have been the first to retaliate, prayed for the murderers and kidnappers, that they may obtain mercy lest they die in their sins. How gloriously changed from the spirit which, in former days, would have prompted them to revenge on one ship the evils perpetrated by a previous one.

WONDERFUL PROGRESS OF THE MISSION.

"As it regards our work generally, we have every reason for gratitude and praise to the great Master of the vineyard, who has so abundantly blessed His own word in this once dark land. The people continue to evince a deep interest in spiritual things. The novelty of our residence amongst them has passed away, but not so their feelings. We are persuaded that it is not mere excitement, or love of novelty. We have daily proofs of the Holy Spirit's work. It has not been by might nor by power that the work has been accomplished, but by the Holy Spirit. To Him be all the glory. Not that the enemy is totally vanquished and has fled; far from it. Satan does not so soon quit his ground and forsake a stronghold. Though many have received the truth in the love of it, many are still ignorant of its vital power. Still we think the form of godliness better than the power of heathenism. The number of inquirers continues to increase, and, what is still better, the candidates themselves increase in light and knowledge. We have now some 600 inquirers; 240 have been admitted to the church during the past year. These are all tried candidates, and