[PREFACE]
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PREFACE.
THE Author of the following pages having in eighteen months passed over a large portion of the globe, his remarks on the different countries visited are necessarily brief. He has described things as they appeared to him; and although interspersing his journal with several miscellaneous subjects, he has endeavoured to keep in view the object of his mission. No labour has been spared to obtain correct information on the various topics introduced: and he would here gratefully acknowledge his obligation to the Missionaries and other gentlemen, for the readiness and clearness with which they answered his numerous inquiries, and thus put him in possession of much valuable information, which he could not otherwise have obtained.
It was the Author's intention to have offered some suggestions on Emigration; but having seen that other writers have anticipated him, and furnished much suitable advice to emigrants, the only remarks which he would now venture to make on the subject are these:-- If people are doing well at home, they had better be content to remain there, lest, like many he has met with, they should change for the worse. To those who think they must emigrate, he would respectfully intimate that if they are delicate, and have been tenderly brought up, they ought not to emigrate to the "diggings," unless they are
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prepared to dig their own graves. Mechanics, agriculturists, labourers, and miners, are the classes best adapted to the present state of Australia; and if such parties be healthy, sober, industrious, of good principles, possessed of common sense, and willing to endure hardship and discomfort for a season, they may emigrate to any of the Australian colonies, with a reasonable hope of success.
The writer is thankful to state that the object of his mission to the Southern World has been satisfactorily accomplished, and the Wesleyan Mission churches in Australia and Polynesia have been formed into a distinct Connexion, with a Conference of its own. The important arrangement is now committed to the watchful care and guidance of Him, without whose blessing nothing is wise, or good, or strong.
London, September 23, 1854.
[CONTENTS]
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Introductory remarks -- Parting scene--Sea-sickness -- First Sabbath--Loss of masts--Screw entangled--Flag of distress-- A leak springs--Steers for Lisbon--Arrival--Appearance of the city--Popery--Tomb of Doddridge--Anniversary of the great earthquake--Murder on board the "Melbourne"--Bullfighting--Procession of the Host--Deputation from London-- Return to England..............1
CHAPTER XI.
Sailing of the "Adelaide"--Disaster--Return to Plymouth--Starts again--Gale--Cabin flooded--Ship on fire--Canary Isles--St. Vincent--No coals--Character of passengers--Crossing the Line--Boy drowned--Burial at sea--St. Helena--An execution--Visit to Napoleon's tomb--Another death--Gambling on board--Arrival at the Cape.................18
CHAPTER III.
Cape-Town--Visit to Constantia--Duel prevented--School anniversary--Departure-- Gale--Another death -- Alarm of fire-- Albatross--Fearful gale--Passengers assist at the pumps-- Religious views--Uncle Tom's Cabin--An evening party-- Land in sight--Arrival in Australia.........41
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CHAPTER IV.
Australia--Swan-River--Aborigines--Funeral in the wilderness-- Departure--Kangaroo-Island--Arrival in South Australia-- Visit to Adelaide--Departure -- Hobson's Bay--Arrival in Melbourne--Visit to St. Kelda--Brighton, and Geelong-- Departure--Squatters and Diggers--Arrival in Sydney..................58
CHAPTER V.
New South Wales--Sydney--Official Address--Missionary Meetings --Visit to Windsor, Richmond, and Paramatta--Snow--Sydney University--State support of Religion--A peculiar character-- Legislative Council--Speaker--Visit to the University--Census Schedules..................89
CHAPTER VI.
Schools--Australian Board of Missions--Emancipated convicts-- Public Library--Convict establishment--Sydney District-Meeting--Wesleyan College--More Ministers wanted--Government immigrants--Atheist reclaimed--New Constitution Bill-- Speeches on the second reading--A fallen Minister imprisoned --Death-adder--Debate in the Council--New Exchange-- Arrival of Missionaries from Polynesia--Dust-storm..................118
CHAPTER VII.
Embark for New Zealand--Passengers--New Zealand in sight-- Tradition as to its origin--North Cape--Wangaroa--Arrival at Auckland--The Town--Wesleyan Chapel--District-Meeting-- Education--Letter from the Governor--Government scheme-- Members of the Mission churches--Mission property--The union of the Mission with Australia--Missionary Meeting--Mr. Whiteley's replies to sundry questions...............139
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CHAPTER VIII.
Missionaries' bush costume--Long journey--Tea-meeting--Mount Eden--Visit to "Three Kings' Institution"--Sermon in the Free Church--Interview with Epiha Putini--Message to the Queen --Wesleyan College --Auckland Day-school--Letters from Native Christians............161
CHAPTER IX.
Interview with natives--Tattooing--Cannibalism--Statements of Christian natives--A Christian Chief--Land squabbles--Letter from a Chief--Anniversary of Captain Cook's discovery of New Zealand--Massacres--Canoes--Intellectual character of the natives--John Hobbs--Review of the work--Bishop Selwyn-- Missionaries -- Colonization -- Colonists--Departure for the Friendly Isles....................184
CHAPTER X.
Friendly Isles--Arrival in Tongatabu--Visit to King George-- Normal Institution--Family worship--Queen Charlotte--Preparation of the Sabbath--Meeting of Missionaries--Sabbath-- Class-meetings--Tapu beating--King's visit to Australia-- Offers to provision the ship--Visit from the Queen--Present from the King--Visit to the seat of the late war--Mua--Popery --Extraordinary tombs--God-houses--School examination-- Chief Justice--Mr. Adams's astronomy...........209
CHAPTER XI.
Departure from Tonga--Queen's letter--Population--Political constitution--Recognised ranks--Mental character--Education-- Late war--Arrival at Vavau--Sabbath--Church-meeting-- School examination--Kava drinking--Letter to the King--His reply--Native Minister--Produce of the islands--Employment of the people--Social condition--Domestic circle--Tradition-- How the people speak of their former condition...............232
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CHAPTER XII.
Departure from Vavau--Vampire-bat--Introduction of Christianity into Vavau--Revival in 1831--Prevalence of the Wesleyans --Church-members--Revival in 1846--Contributions--Introduction of Popery--Character of the people--Diseases-- Tradition--Review of the work--Sabbath observance--Family-worship--Love of the Scriptures--Civilization..................256
CHAPTER XIII.
Feejee--Lakemba--Church-meeting--Joel Bulu--Arrival of the Mail--Dinner sent by the King--Native pottery--Kind children --Another dinner sent--School examination--King George preaches--A marriage -- Cannibalism---King of Lakemba-- Popish Priests foiled---Rotumah--Departure--Political Constitution--Ranks--Character of the people--Improvement-- Native agents--Education--Hindrances--War--Considerations which sustain Missionaries--Arrival at Vewa....................272
CHAPTER XIV.
Vewa--Meeting of Missionaries--Visit to Bau--Thakombau--King of Somosomo -- School examination--Meditated revenge-- Change in Christian Feejeeans--Civilization--Native's estimate of Missionaries--Sacrifice of human life -- Effects of European and American visitors--Mental character--Romanism--Means of support--Treatment of women--Resources for trade--Prospect of Christianizing the people--General aspect and character of the country--Climate--Commerce--Cannibalism--Character of the Heathen--Means of civilization--Superstition-- Tradition--Courtship--Women in power--Contrast between Christians and the Heathen..................297
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CHAPTER XV.
Visit to the tomb of Mr. Hunt -- The war at Ovalau--Death and character of Varani -- Women strangled--Heroic conduct of Missionaries to save life--Contents of cannibal ovens obtained for interment -- Customs apparently of Asiatic origin--Departure from Vewa--Review of the work of the Mission-- Voyage to Sydney...............317
CHAPTER XVI.
King George in Sydney--Legislative Council--The King at a party --Missionary Meeting--Valedictory address--Departure from Sydney--Review of the rise and progress of Methodism in New South Wales -- Letter from Rev. R. Mansfield--Arrival in Melbourne. -- Departure for Mount Alexander--Journey-- Arrival at Fores Creek--Digger's wedding--Christmas-day on the gold-fields--Bendigo--State of the digging population-- Influence of Methodism--Large tea-meeting--Average earnings of gold-diggers--Return to Melbourne...................343
CHAPTER XVII.
New-year--Hot wind and dust-storm--Departure for Van Diemen's Land--Arrival in Launceston--Journey through the island-- Hobart-Town--Various Meetings---Sandy-Bay -- Return to Launceston -- More Meetings--Contributions for additional Ministers--Inconvenience of departing from a penal Colony-- Rise and progress of Methodism in the land--Arrival in Melbourne--Meetings--Review of the Mission in Victoria--Mission to the Aborigines--Cause of its failure--Native Institution at Mount Franklin.............................374
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CHAPTER XVIII.
Departure from Melbourne--Arrival at Adelaide--Wesleyan church in that colony--Unhappy death of a passenger--Arrival at King George's Sound--Review of the work in Australasia-- New Ecclesiastical arrangement--Character of Missionaries-- Departure for Ceylon--Unfortunate letter--Tropical sunset-- Arrival at Point-de-Galle--Cinnamon gardens--Budhist temple --Interview with priests--Conversations with Native Christians --Mission-schools--Missionaries' challenge to the Devil-priests...........................397
CHAPTER XIX.
Departure from Ceylon--Letter from a Native Christian--Passengers --Arrival at Aden--Scriptural illustrations--Arabs--Departure --Red Sea--Mount Horeb--Passage of the Israelites--Suez-- --Loading camels--Journey across the Desert--Mirage--Rag-tree--Arrival in Cairo--Grand Mosque--Joseph's Well--Slave-market--Bazaars--Enmity of Mohammedans--The Nile-- Canal--Mohammedan sailors--Alexandria--Malta--Meeting of the English and French soldiers--Gibraltar--Arrival at home......................415
NOTES
REFERRED TO IN THE VOLUME.
A. Rules and Regulations of the Wesleyan Immigrants' Home...429
B. Table, showing the state of the Labour-market...430
C. Extract from the Minutes of the New South Wales District-Meeting...431
D. Imports and Exports of New South Wales....432
E. Minutes of a Leaders' Meeting, held at Auckland, New Zealand, September 23, 1853:....432
F. Skeleton of a Sermon by Shadrach Mumui, Chief Judge of Tonga...433
G. The Laws of the Kingdoms of Tonga, Haabai, and Vavau. 434
H. Brief Outline of King George's Sermon.....442
I. Letter from the Rev. J. Wesley to Mr. Valton....443
K. Public challenge to the Devil-priests of Ceylon noticed...444
