was also the crime of every day, perpetrated by almost every mother, without shame or remorse. Now the Sabbath is most sacredly regarded, all worldly business is entirely suspended, and scarcely can an individual be found, who does not attend some house of Christian worship, nor a family, which neglects morning and evening prayers." The Rev. D. Tyerman one of the deputation seut from England, to visit these islands, states the following facts concerning the people here; "No public immorality or indecency is seen. All drunkenness and profane swearing are unknown here. All their former sports and amusements are completely put down. Never before did the Gospel obtain so complete and so universal triumph, in any country, over heathenism, cruelty, superstition and ignorance."

40.

SANDWICH ISLANDS MISSION.

THE Sandwich Islands are a group of 11 islands in the N. Pacific Ocean, containing according to the estimation of the Missionaries, about

150,000 inhabitants. Of these islands, Owyhee, or (according to the orthography established by the Missionaries,) Hawaii, is the largest.

Till recently, the inhabitants of these Islands were gross idolaters, their religion being similar to that of the natives of the Society Islands before the introduction of Christianity.

In the year 1819, Tamehameha, king of the Sandwich Islands, died, and was succeeded by his son Rihoriho. This young prince in the early part of Nov. 1819, gave orders for the destruction of the monuments of Idolatry, in Owyhee, and a few days after sent the same orders to the other Islands, which were promptly obeyed. In Atooi, the Morais and the consecrated buildings with the idols, were set on fire, the first evening after the order arrived. The same was done in all the islands. --These events took place, only a few days after the first Missionaries sailed from Boston.

This change appears to have been effected by the reports of what had been done in the Society Islands, the advice of foreigners, and some of the more intelligent chiefs. "The spell of diabolical enchantment was broken, the priests having lost their proud, and tyrannical pre-emin

ence, deserted their altars of abomination, the inveterate customs of 3,000 years were abolished, and the people were left without the forms of any religion. Thus the Lord prepared the way for the introduction of the Gospel into these islands.

One of the principal events which seems to have led to the establishment of this Mission, was the religious education of Henry Obookiah, a native of Owyhee, by the Rev. S. J. Mills, a zealous friend of missions. Obookiah was left an orphan in his native country by one of those exterminating wars which often happened there, at the age of 10 or 12 years. In a few years after, he was token by an American captain to the United States, and landed at New-Haven, Con. in 1809. While at New-Haven, Mr. Mills, then a student of Yale College, conceived the plan of educating Obookiah as Missionary to his native island Obookiah soon became hopefully pious and strongly advocated a Mission to his countrymen, in which he ardently longed to engage. He however died at the Foreign Mission School at Cornwall, Con. Feb. 17th, 1818; but "his mantle fell" upon others, and three missionaries, and agriculturalist, me

chanic, printer, and physician, with their families, with four native youths who had been educated as teachers at Cornwall, were sent out by the American Board of Foreign Missions, and sailed from Boston, Oct 23, 1819, and arrived off Owyhee, March 30th, 1820. These missionaries were cordially received by the natives, and immediately engaged in the duties of the Mission.-They found the encouragement so great, that they sent to the Board for more labourers. Accordingly, five Missionaries with their families, embarked at New-Haven, Nov. 19th, 1822, and arrived at the Sandwich Islands, April 27th, 1823. In 1823, they were joined by the Rev. Mr. Ellis with two pious Otaheitans from the Society Islands. Mr. Ellis was patronized by the London Society, and has rendered important services to this Mission.-A church has been formed, places of worship have been erected, schools have been established, and Christianity, education, and civilization, have gone forward with pleasing success.

The following Hymn was composed by Mr. W. M. Tappan, on the occasion of the Missionaries embarking at New-Haven, Con. for the Sandwich Islands.

Wake, Isles of the South! your redemption is near,
No longer repose in the borders of gloom;

The strength of His chosen in love will appear,

And light shall arise on the verge of the tomb.

Alleluia to the Lamb who hath purchased our pardon:
We will praise him again when we pass over Jordan ;
We will praise him, &c.

The billows that girt ye, the wild waves that roar,
The zephyrs that play where the ocean-storms cease,
Shall bear the rich freight to your desolate shore,
Shall waft the glad tidings of pardon and peace.
Alleluia &c.

On the islands that sit in the regions of night,
The lands of despair, to oblivion a prey,

The morning will open with healing and light;
The young star of Bethlehem will ripen to day.
Alleluia &c.

The altar and idol in dust overthrown,

The incese forbade that was hallowed in blood;
The Priest of Melchisedec there shall atone,
And the shrines of Atooi be sacred to God!

Alleluia &c.

The heathen will hasten to welcome the time,
The day-spring, the prophet in vision once saw-
When the beams of Messiah will 'lumine each clime,
And the Isles of the Ocean shall wait for his law.

Alleluia &c.

And thou OBOOKIAH! now sainted above,

Wilt rejoice, as the heralds their mission disclose;

And the prayer will be heard, that the land thou didst love, May blossom as Sharon, and bud as the rose !

Alleluia &c.