Countries, and Religious Denominations established or tolerated.

VI.—Australasia and Polynesia.

UNDER the former term, Mr. Pinkerton comprehends New Holland, and the adjacent Isles of Van Dieman's Land, to the southward; also New Guinea, New Britain, &c. to the north.

NEW HOLLAND is generally considered as an Island, and is, doubtless, surrounded with the ocean; but, from its great extent, measuring 2730 British miles by 1960, many think it entitled to rank as a new Continent, being but little less than Europe. But little of this extensive country is however yet known, except the western coast. It was probably first discovered by the Spanish or Portuguese, but the Dutch began to explore it early in the 17th century. In 1770 Captain Cook visited this colony, and took possession of it in the name of his Britannic Majesty. At the end of the American war, our country being in want of a place where to send our convicts, a settlement for that purpose was intended at Botany Bay, on the eastern coast; but was afterwards (1788) fixed a few miles farther north, at Sidney Cove, on the south of Port Jackson. Subsequent stations have been since formed at Paramatta, Hawkesbury, Newcastle, and, lastly, Bathurst; occupying, altogether, about 80 miles on the eastern coast, and about 40 miles inland.

The population of these settlements was, in 1820, taken as follows: free settlers, 1307; born in the colony, 1495; pardoned, 1121; free by servitude, or expiration of their sentence, 3255; hold tickets of leave, 1422; convicts under sentence, 9451; children, 5688; serving on board colonial vessels, 220; total, 23,939. Another settlement, composed of similar materials, was formed at Hobart's Town, on the almost adjoining Island, called Van Dieman's Land; but this is not equal to more than one-fourth of New South Wales. The native inhabitants of both are naked savages, in the rudest state of society; some copper-coloured, and others almost as black as negroes; so that they are evidently of different races. Dr. Carey (now of India) judging,

as

Present State of Religion, Missions, &c.

St. Croix, and St. Jan, formed the first Missionary stations of the United Brethren, in 1732; and they have still thirty-six Missionaries, of both sexes, employed among the negroes, and about 12,000 members in their congregations. An interesting circumstance stands connected with the Mission to St. Thomas's. The first Missionaries from Germany went with the avowed intention to sell themselves for slaves, if it should be found necessary, in order to gain access to the negroes. Finding this equally unnecessary and impracticable, they then determined to labour for their own support; at first their difficulties and sufferings were extreme, but afterwards their success was answerable.

VI.-Australasia and Polynesia.

NEW HOLLAND.--Having stated of what materials this extensive colony is composed, it is with much pleasure we add, that they have been placed by government under the superintendance of an active and pious clergyman of the Church of England, Mr. Marsden, who is the senior Chaplain, and has paid the most assiduous attention to their best interests. Schools have been established both for the Europeans and the natives, and both have proved more docile and attentive than was expected. Several Missionaries to the South Seas have occasionally visited and preached here; particularly Mr. Crook, who resided here several years. In 1821, the Wesleyan Methodists sent a Missionary expressly to the black natives, one tribe of whom speak English. He is labouring to acquire their native language, in order to address the others; and their Chief is so friendly to the. Mission, that he enjoins on the people the duty of attending to his instructions.-There are also two Chaplains in Van Dieman's Land. Strange as it may seem, Mr. Marsden connects the colony of New South Wales with the Missionary cause in the South Seas, in the following manner: "What means has Infinite Wisdom adopted to accomplish the divine purposes! Did it please God to send an army of pious Christians to prepare his way in this wilderness? Did he establish a colony in New South Wales, for the advancement of his glory and the salvation of the Heathen nations in these distant parts of the globe, from men of character and principle? On the contrary, He takes men from the dregs of society-the sweepings of the gaols, hulks, and prisons-men, who had forfeited their lives to the laws of their country-He gives them their lives for a prey, and sends them

Countries, and Religious Denominations established or tolerated.

suppose, from the extent of the country, estimated the natives at twelve millions, which, in our last edition, we ventured to reduce to four; but even of this we have no direct proof, a few hundreds only having been seen together, and the population near the coast is certainly very thin. Their ancestors were probably from the Asiatic Islands, cast upon the coast at different times by shipwreck; but the inhabitants themselves have an idea of having dropped from the clouds.

Papua, or New Guinea, is another considerable Island, about 1200 miles by 300, and very little known, as here is no European settlement. The inhabitants, called Papous, have the same dark complexion as the above, but their language is very different, and tradition gives them a relation to the inhabitants of the Moluccas. Some build their houses on stages in the water, and others sleep in trees. Little is known of the women in the other islands, but in this they appear be far more industrious than the men, and manufacture mats made of rushes, and pots of baked clay. There are several smaller isles adjacent, said to be well peopled, and one of them (Waijoo) to have 100,000 inhabitants.

to

These Islands, with several others, as New Britain, New Caledonia, and the extensive group of Solomon's Isles, abound with natural curiosities, (as the bird of Paradise, the black swan, &c.) and have highly interested the few travellers by whom they have been visited, and are still more interesting to the contemplative mind, as the future scenes of civilization, and Missionary labour, which has already reached the following.

NEW ZEALAND is found to consist of two Islands, separated by a narrow channel, and each five or six hundred miles in length, by about 150 in width. The natives appear to be a superior race, in stature and appearance, to the preceding; intelligent and warlike, dressed in long robes manufactured from their own flax, which is very silky; but in their wars they are most sanguinary, and appear to be the most horrid cannibals on the face of the earth, as will be seen on the opposite page.

POLYNESIA.

The Georgian, or Windward Islands, claim our prior attention, as having first received and embraced the Gospel; and among these, Otaheite and Eimeo take the lead.

OTAHEITE, or more properly Taheite, was the object of the first Mission of the London Missionary Society. It is about 30 miles in length, and 20 in its greatest breadth. The natives were till lately gross and superstitious Pagans; what they are now will appear on the other side. Not only Taheite and Eimeo, but also the smaller Isles of Tapua-manu and Tetaroa," are now altogether, in profession, Christian

Islands."

.

Present State of Religion, Missions, &c.

forth to make a way for his servants; for them that should bring glad tidings-that should publish peace to the heathen world-that should say unto them, in the name of the Lord, Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth! for I am God, and there is none else.' Well may we exclaim with the Apostle, How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" [Miss. Reg. 1823, p. 66.]

NEW ZEALAND. - The Church Missionary Society have two stations, both in the northern extremity; one of which was formed in 1815. Shunghee and another chief visited England, and were kindly received; on their return, however, it too plainly appeared their object was to provide the materiel for war; for, on their calling at Port Jackson, the greater part of the liberal presents they had received were exchanged for arms and ammunition; and on their return home, in July, 1821, they not only showed a spirit of hostility to the Missionaries and former settlers, but Shunghee and his party immediately prepared for war against his rivals; and by the end of the year had slain 1000 of his enemies, and (shocking to relate), the victors had eaten a great number of their enemies on the field of battle; besides which, many of the prisoners they carried home, were also slaughtered and eaten in cold blood; even the children joining in these enormities.

Notwithstanding these atrocities, however, by the guardian Providence of God, the Missionaries and settlers have been preserved, and allowed to reap the harvests they had sown. In September, 1822, the Rev. Mr. Marsden writes:-"I greatly lament the evils which have taken place, but they do not make me despair. I have no doubt that the New-Zealanders will, in due time, become a civilized nation. God will deliver them from the dominion of the Prince of this world, and they shall see his salvation."

The Wesleyan Society have also three Missionaries here, one of whom had just arrived when Mr. Marsden wrote; of the former he speaks in the most handsome terms.

POLYNESIA.

The first Missionaries were sent hither from the London Society in 1796, and landed at Otaheite in 1797. For about eighteen years, the Missionaries laboured with but little encouragement, and exposed to much danger; but in 1815 a wonderful change took place, as is well known; their gods were cast into the fire; even some of the priests renounced idolatry, and Christianity became triumphant. Of 4000 persons who, in these two Islands, professed the new religion, 3000 had learned to read. Parts of the Scripture, with Catechisms, &c. in their own language, were dispersed among them—all sought to

Countries, and Religious Denominations established or tolerated.

Islands." The population of these, and the neighbouring Islands, has been greatly overrated by some navigators, having been stated at 160,000. The following extract is from the brief Geographical Account prefixed to the "Narrative of the Mission to Otaheite," published by authority of the London Missionary Society in 1818.

"The population of Taheite has been very differently computed, and may have varied considerably at different periods. In 1769, Topaya, who was well qualified to judge, reckoned the number of men capable of fighting to be 6,780; which might imply a population of 30,000. In 1797, Captain W. Wilson, after a minute investigation, concluded it not to exceed 16,000; and, in 1802, the Missionaries, Jefferson and Scott, having perambulated the whole island, and preached to numerous small congregations, amounting in all to 3700 persons, doubted whether more than 7000 resided in the island. Unrestrained sensuality, the habitual murder of infants, human sacrifices, and desolating wars, had doubtless greatly diminished the actual population; but this certainly never approximated to the enormous computations of our navigators who first visited the country. The reception of Christianity will obviate the principal causes of depopulation, and a due attention to cultivation of the soil may provide, to a very distant period, for the natural increase."-[Narrative, &c. p. 2.]

By the above account it appears, that there has been a rapid diminution of the population, through the causes above mentioned. King Pomare, after his conversion, speaks of them as "the small remainder of the people;" and Tati, another chief, confessed to Mr. Davies, one of the Missionaries, that "if God had not sent his word at the time he did, infant murders, human sacrifices, &c. would have made an end." And Mr. Davies adds, "The population of these Islands, which was rapidly decreasing, will now probably be continually on the increase. There is already an observable difference in the number of little children and infants."

EIMEO (commonly called by the natives, Morea) was formerly independent, but having been subjected by the late King, [i. e. the last but one] afforded a refuge for his son [Pomare] when expelled from his proper dominions. It is only ten miles in length, and five in breadth.

The SOCIETY (or Leeward) ISLANDS lie north-west of the preceding. Huaheine is about 20 miles in circumference,―Raietea, about twice as large,-Borabora is smaller, but surrounded by a reef full of populous Islets; and there are two or three other small Islands in the neighbourhood.

Raivavai, Rurutu, and four or five other small Islands, south-east of Otaheite, and a few miles distant from each other, have received the Gospel from Otaheite; also the Paumotu Islands, to whom two natives, converted at Otaheite, have been sent as Missionaries. The inhabitants