Akitu is an elderly lady of great respectability; formerly noted for her violent temper, and her activity in works of darkness: she is now a simpleminded Christian, clear in her views of the Gospel.

Tira and his wife are natives of Taranake, or Cape Egmont, the place where Harriet" was a part of the crew of the murdered, and a Mrs. Guard and her children detained in captivity. They have been living here for seven years past, being slaves to Titore. They are both remarkably clear in their views of the Gospel, and earnest in their wish for baptism.

Tama and Poti, Chiefs of Kaikohi, were formerly desperate characters, always forward in mischief. They will, I trust, be as active in the service of Christ, as they were formerly in that of Satan.

Toi is the Chief of Olana; a place distant twenty miles from the Settlement, and seldom visited. I expected to find him indifferently informed, but was much gratified with his answers. His wife was with him, and like-minded with himself; and his daughter, who is quite a child, seems to have read her Bible to good purpose. Indeed, this whole party, about eight in number, were among the best informed, showing the power of the grace of God; while many, who enjoy much greater advantages, remain in total igno

rance.

March 13: Lord's Day-Baptized the forty-four Natives, in the presence of a large congregation of Natives, many of whom were Christians.

From a former Journal of Mr. Fairburn's, but recently received, we add the following instance of Spiritual Conversation with the Natives. Aug. 4, 1834-Assembled, this evenRECORD, Dec. 1836.]

ing, the baptized and serious Natives. One remained, for the purpose of private conversation: he belongs to Puriri, and has only heard of the New Way since our arrival here: his own remarks will show his present state of mind. He began, after being encouraged to speak all his dark; only that in these evening visits he mind, by saying that his heart was very thought he could sometimes perceive a small, very small, glimmer of light; likening its size to the tip of his little finger compared with his whole body; but even that he thought was a delusion, and he did when he chose a spot of new this made his thoughts dark. I asked what ground for a plantation. Do you plant the seed among high fern or briars ?" "Oh no! we burn off the fern, dig the land, pull up the roots, and then plant the seed." Well, after you have planted the seed, if no rain fall, will Oh no! it just comes above it grow ?" ground, but is weak and sickly, and has not see any thing resembling this plantano fruit at the roots."- Now, do you tion in your own heart? You see you may dig and plant, and strive in your own blessing of a gracious rain; but with it strength, yet all is in vain, without the your plants will grow and thrive. And so it is with the heart of man: without the

"

66

influence of the Holy Spirit of God, it will be always unfruitful. Fruitfulness is only to be obtained by faith and prayer; for God says, Ask, and ye shall receive." His countenance brightened, as he said,

My heart is just like that plantation you have described; and I now want the Spirit of God acting on my heart, as the further conversation, he reluctantly went rain on the plantation." After much

home.

دو

The following Extracts are of a consolatory nature, descriptive of

Visits to the Pious Sick. Mr. W. Williams relates concerning one of the Chiefs:

Jan. 25,1835-Went to Mawe, to see Broughton Ripi, who is exceedingly ill. He expects to die; and has been earnest in giving counsel to his Christian relatives. The Natives have a poor idea of comfort, and no notion of a proper attention to the sick. Broughton had taken no food of any kind for some days; and his nephew, who was lying at the point of death in the same house, they had ceased to

2 R

feed, because he did not wish for food.

Jan. 28,1835 - Visited Broughton to day, who appears worse, inasmuch as he takes no kind of nourishment: and though he bas tea, sugar, and flour, his friends do not urge him to take any, after his first refusal. I boiled some peaches for him with sugar, which he seemed to relish.

Jan. 31: Lord's Day Took the home-duty to day; and in the evening went with Mr. Clarke to see Broughton, having heard that he was much worse. We found him much reduced for want of food, though his complaint was not of a nature to threaten serious consequences. We persuaded him to take some food, which we had brought with us; and recommended his removal to Waimate in the morning. He is happy in mind; and requested all his people to be present, while we had prayer with him.

Mr. Puckey, writing from Kaitaia, Jan. 27, 1836, gives the following interesting account of the sickness and death of a pious youth:

Sickness has been very prevalent among the Natives lately: several have been cut off, with, I fear, but little preparation, A little boy died in this Settlement, in a very pleasing and rejoicing frame of mind. He was laid on the bed of suffering for several months; and, during the time I attended on him, I never heard him complain. One day, shortly before his death, I called in to see him: and, in answer to a question which I put to him, he said, "I have one trial: when I pray to God, my heart seems as hard as a stone, and I find that Satan tries to hinder me." I said: "I hope you do not leave off praying, because you find that Satan tries to hinder you." "Oh no!" he said: "I pray very often: my sins are many; I want to have them washed away. I have been a very great sinner against a most gracious God: He is very kind to me." At another time he said, in answer to my inquiry, “Longing to depart, and to be with Christ!" asked him if he were in much pain. Yes," he replied, "I am in great pain; and the people who live with us are so noisy, that I am obliged to lie out of doors. But then you know Jesus Christ suffered a great deal more than this for my sins: my pain is nothing compared with His: His love is very great to me,

I

"

and I love Him very much. I am sure He has blotted out my sins; and I long to sing His praises in heaven, and live with Him.' I remarked: And what pleasure you will feel, if, through your death, your parents should be led to the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus. I am afraid they are very careless now." "Yes," he replied, "I shall never regret these pains, if it does. Sometimes I lie awake all night, and converse with my Saviour; and my heart is so filled with light, and is so glad! I wish my párents were thoughtful; it would comfort me much, if they were."-This dear little fellow was just in the same state of mind when I saw him but a few hours before his death. I went to see him the day he was buried: and as I looked on his poor deformed and emaciated body, I felt much encouraged to proceed in my labours; and could not help rejoicing in the happiness of him, who, but a little

time before, was an inhabitant of a perishing body, and is now, I trust; living with Jesus, and praising Him.

When we consider the great number of our Countrymen, and other Europeans, who live and die in foreign lands, without God, and without hope, it is not a little consolatory to read of a solitary exception. The following, related by Mr. W. Williams, is an instance of such.

Hopeful Death of a European in New Zealand.

March 8, 1835: Lord's Day-Held Service at Paihia in the morning and evening, and at Kororarika in the afternoon. In the morning, news came from the Kauakaua of the death of a European, who has been living some years there. He had, of late, followed the stream with the Natives [meaning, the pious Natives]; and had become an attendant with them on the Means of Grace, joining with them in worship, and often leading the hymn for them; and always listening to the addresses delivered by Last night he the Native Teacher.

was about to retire to rest, and knelt down to pray in the Native Language. He had repeated the first three clauses of the Lord's Prayer, when he suddenly complained of pain in his head, and expired.

We may, as a contrast to these

Having heard that Kohirangatira was very ill, I prepared some medicine for him; and, accompanied by Mr. Morgan, started early this morning for Tauru, eighteen miles distant. Reached the place at one o'clock; and found a dozen Natives sitting round two others playing at draughts, on a rude board of their own make their draughtsmen were cockleshells, played the round side up by one party; by the other party, the reverse. I inquired where the sick Chief was. They replied," Tapued" (made sacred). I told them we had heard that he was ill, and had come to see him. "Is the Ariki" (priest)" with him ?" "Yes.' I told one of the players, and son of the sick man, to inform them that we wished to see Kohirangatira: he reluctantly rose from his game, to convey my message; and soon returned, saying, that his tapu was so great, that he could not be seen.-It is worthy of remark, that when persons of distinction are taken ill among them, and their friends imagine that they will die, they convey them to an open shed, and prohibit every kind of food from being given to them; water only is allowed. Thus the poor sufferer is literally starved to death. He resumed, very composedly, his position at the draught-board. I told him we had come a long distance, in the hope of affording his father some relief, by medicine that I had brought for the purpose; but Wiro (Satan), their great enemy, wished him to die, that he might go to his (Wiro's) place: and I supposed that I must take my medicine back again; showing, at the same time, a bottle of liniment. I then turned to the two Natives who came with us, and said, Come, let us go; we are not wanted here. "Wait a little," said the young Chief. "These young men have come a long distance, and are mate

close at his elbow; who, on our approach, put on a very wise countenance; and, no doubt,imagined that contamination was drawing near, as we approached them. Still, however, I found that we were not to advance nearer than within six yards of the invalid; a line being marked off as the boundary to all, except the tapued, by branches of laurel stuck in the ground around his shed. I spoke to the sick Chief; and told him that I was sorry I could not assist him with my medicine-exhibiting my former passport, the bottle of liniment-which I had brought on purpose to ease his pains. He said something, in a low tone, to the priest; and then requested us to advance. I held out my hand, to shake hands with him; which he deferred doing, till he had first placed a leaf of the laurel in the hand I was to take hold of. This ceremony over, I sat on the ground beside him; the old priest in the meanwhile watching every motion. Having asked him some questions about his sickness, I found it to be chronic rheumatism. I

prevailed on him to let an old woman, one of the sacred party, rub his ankle with the liniment. The priest wishing to know what the liquid in the bottle was, I handed it to him. He applied it to his nose, and, being strong, it brought forth tears in abundance; an electric shock could scarcely have surprised him more; while the sick Chief and bystanders laughed heartily. I gave the Chief some pills, with directions how to take them. One, which I gave him while there, he took in his hand, with a leaf placed in the palm as before; then, putting his hand behind him, he repeated some words which I could not sufficiently hear to make out, and then swallowed the pill. Superstition seems to be deeply rooted everywhere in this quarter; perhaps as much as though Christianity had never appeared in the land; but Satan's kingdom is now invaded, and it must fall. May we have grace from on high, to keep our armour bright! Having

veral voices here called out, Make haste, scrape and boil potatoes for te manuwiri (strangers)." The young Chief paid another visit to his father and the priest; and, shortly after, I was invited to advance toward the place where the

took our leave, and reached home about eight in the evening.

Operations of the Press.

The following is the report of Mr. William Colenso, on this im

portant branch of the Missionary Labours in New Zealand:

› › July, 1835—I have been employed in cleaning and setting up the press; making and getting tools to rights; laying type in cases; composing and working-off 2000 copies of the Epistles to the Ephesians and Philippians, and folding and sewing the same; composing and working-off 600 Tables for Schools; repairing native and other books; and numerous little things for the Station, as cutting out boards and mounting lessons, writing, glazing, &c.

Jan. 5, 1836 -During the last six months, I have been engaged in composing and printing 1000 copies of St. Luke's Gospel, and a 12mo book of sixtyseven pages; since which I have bound, in leather and cloth, upwards of 400 of these Gospels. I have also printed seventy-five Circular Letters in English, and seventy in the Native Language, for the British Resident.

Concerning the copies of St. Luke's Gospel, and other matters, Mr. Colenso adds

Struck off 1000 copies; have bound upwards of 400; and am going on with the remainder. I cannot bind them fast enough for the Natives: they are very impatient to obtain them. I have also printed 600 copies of the Addition, Multiplication, and Shillings-and-Pence Tables, for the Natives.

Petition of a Native for a Book. Mr. Colenso adds, under the same date:

I send you a copy of a Note received yesterday from a Chief named Wari, at Wangaruru; a place on the coast, outside Cape Brett: to which place I suppose I shall pay a visit in a week or two.

'Ekera, e Puka-Maku te taki pu hei pupuki mo Hiro ma te kapahu ano e tika hei urungi. "Ne Wari." "Sir, Father, the Baker-(Give) for me one gun (a book), to enable (me) to shoot Wiro (the Evil Spirit); as the compass truly sets straight, (or guides) the rudder (or steerer). ་་ From Wari." The words in parentheses are supplied. The Natives call a Bible, or Gospel, gun."

a

Mr. J. Hamlin's Journal of the visit made by him, in company with the Rev. W. Williams, to the Southward, for the purpose of pacificating hostile tribes. Mr. Hamlin's Journal having arrived subsequently, could not be incorporated with Mr. Williams's account, as given at pp. 164-168 of this Volume; but as it contains several additional and curious particulars, it is here presented to our Readers. The events herein related, occurred about three months previous to Mr. Hamlin's settling at his new Station of Mangapouri. They illus→ trate, like many former accounts, the Safety, and Influence, of the Missionaries,

in the midst of Warring Tribes. Mar.19,1835-After breakfast, we proceeded down Waipa River, toward the parties who were fighting. Arrived at the Horo (a Pa) about twelve o'clock, and spoke to them on the subject of making peace. All of them said that they were willing to make peace; and that we had better go down to the others, who were fighting with them, and speak to them also on the subject. We accordingly went, and were received by them very well. We proposed peace to them; but they immediately asked us if the Ngapuhi (the Natives of the Bay) listened to us, when we had occasion to propose the same subject to them. To which Mr. Williams replied, 06 'Yes. We talked to them for some time, pointing out the evil of war; but I could not discover any real desire to make peace, before they had again engaged in the work of destruction. Accordingly, while we were in the act of talking to them, some of them went up to the others who stood on this side the river; dragging their muskets behind them, lest they should be seen. others were parading; and seeing these on this side of the river, who they supposed came for no good, fired at them: consequently, they all flew to arms; and a skirmish ensued, in which one was killed on the spot; two others were so wounded, that they died in a short time afterwards; two more slightly wounded on this side; and one killed on the side of the Pa. The sun having set, and the night coming on, it put a stop to their

The

to their houses, there was a religious ceremony performed by those who had been in the skirmish, in the following manner. They all assembled in rank, two deep; every man having a blade of coarse grass in each of his hands, which were lifted up as high as he could easily lift them: great care was at the same time observed, to have the line regular, with their feet even. The Warakia was commenced by a man standing a little out of the line, at one end; whom I supposed to be the priest: all the others joined; but it was repeated so fast, that I could not understand a word of it. It closed with a short dance: after which each person stooped down, and put his hands before his face, as a person would do in offering up a short ejaculatory prayer; and then each man returned to his house. This, I understand, is the custom of those who consider themselves worsted: but this ceremony ends somewhat differently with those who think that they have gained an advantage over their enemy. This they consider to be a duty which they owe to their god, and which they never think of neglecting; as by the performance of it they expect strength and prosperity for the future.

March 20, 1835-About three o'clock this morning, an old woman, who the Natives say was the Atua or god, was calling out in a shrill voice: what she said I could not tell. At day-light, they commenced firing again; which we thought was a continuation of hostilities; but we found, upon inquiry, that it was a sacred fight, called a Tauatoto. It means, that when a person is shot, or so wounded that he dies, the relations of the person are sacred, and under obligation to their god, until they have fired off so many guns into the air, in sight of the enemy by whom the person was shot; after which, they consider themselves free. There is another fight, which they call Taua Moa, and it is this. When two parties have had a skirmish, and one has more men killed than the other, the party which has suffered the greatest loss follows the other party to their residence: and if it be a Pa, the inmates are afraid to come but for three days; because they say that the others are furious, and are sure to be courageous: but if they remain in their Pa for three days, the fury of the other party is abated, so that they may go out to meet them without fear. This day

was employed in negociating and conversing with both parties; and as they seemed inclined for peace, we remained at the same place.

March 21-We went to the Taua, to learn whether they felt inclined for peace; and if not, we intended to proceed on our journey; but while we were conversing with them, two of the wives of the head man of the Pa came into the midst of those with whom we were talking, and were received very well. They then commenced making their speeches ; and had not finished, when the rain set in, and put a stop to the further business of the day. During our three days' stay with them, we have had many opportunities of conversing with both parties on Religious subjects; and have been much pleased with some remarks made by a Chief whose name was Maioha; for he publicly told all present, that he intended to throw away his fighting, and turn to God.

March 22-The Taua dispersed, every man to his home; except three sons of the principal Chiefs, who remained with us, to go to the Pa to ratify the peace. Accordingly, after breakfast, we went by water to the Pa, three men accompanying

us.

On arriving, we proceeded, the three men following us, till we came among the Natives; when we stepped aside, and they drew up and had a cry with the Natives with whom they had been fighting; after which, they rubbed noses; and then proceeded to make their speeches, which were any thing but interesting to us. After this, we had Service with them, and a pretty good congregation of attentive hearers. Returned to our tents; had dinner; and afterward held an Afternoon Service with them. I spoke to the Natives, who were very attentive, and begged them to consider what they should do when death came, if all their superstitions should be wrong; which they would surely find to be the case.

March 28-We went on, till we came within about a mile and a half of Wakatiwai, where we had breakfast. We then, with the Natives from Waikato who accompanied us, went on to the Pa; were met by the Natives; and, after sitting down a few minutes, we went and shook hands with them, and with old Warerahi, whom we left at this place. To our great surprise, here sat Kahakaha and Motutara: they had been at Waikato,