CHAPTER V.

A GLANCE AT THE PROVINCE AND RESULT OF MISSIONS IN THE HEART OF THE PACIFIC, AND A VISIT ΤΟ THE PALACE OF THE SUN.

A passing tribute to the true modern apostles - Character of Protestant civilization - Theory and practice at Wailuku History and progress of the Female Seminary-Province of woman in the work of civilization-How fulfilled-Examination of schools-Hawaiian girls-Trip to the crater of Hale-a-ka-la -We reach the brim-Novel scene opened at the top-Spectacle of grandeur and glory presented by the clouds-A playground for the youth of Heaven-Feelings belonging to such a position-Man's nothingness and the Creator's glory-Rhapsody of Rowland Hill-Luther's view of the majestic vault of God-Lesson we learned from the lofty look-out of Hale-a-ka-la -A sight from the cliffs of eternity-Montgomery's impre cation-We are let down safely-We pass to the sugar-making on East Maui-Farming lands-Horseback route through Haiku —Sand-hills and ancient Golgotha-Reflections on a skull-Evidence of former culture and dense population-Present record of deaths and births-Mortality of the year 1848 by measles-Culture of rice by Chinamen-Fine appearance of the garden and terraces of Wailuku-Entertainment at the Seminary-Sports with the children.

WITHOUT being of the craft-an honour which providences have forbidden-we freely confess to what may

already have been discovered in these pages, namely, to an unfeigned love and respect for foreign missionaries. Well knowing whereof we affirm, we hold them worthy of all honour. They are Civilization's pioneers and explorers, as well as the tamers of mankind and preachers of the Gospel.

It is of them that Tacitus might have said most truly, Emolliunt mores, nec sinunt esse feros (they soften and improve both the manners and the morals of men, and forbid their living like beasts). They are Humanity's best teachers, Freedom's truest champions, Labour's ablest lifters, Society's real equalizers, and the clearest expounders of the rights of man. They are, indeed, the only true Apostles of Liberty, Fraternity, Equality-the world's working Socialists. They are the heralds and advanceguard of Agriculture, Science, and Art, and of all true social reformation, as well as of virtue and religion.

In their relations to barbarous tribes, and to the wide world of suffering humanity, they alone do truly blend in one the Christianizer, Civilizer, Benefactor, Brother, Friend. They act in the spirit of John Hampden's motto, Nulla vestigia retrorsum (no steps backward).

A practical demonstration of this is now seen at Wailuku; and it is pleasant to be able to testify of a station which, up to 1850, has enjoyed the labours of resident missionaries for eighteen years, that the people seem to be better clad, better housed, and to live better than at any other part of this Heart of the Pacific yet visited. Three special reasons may be assigned for it: First, The region is a fruitful one, supplying kalo and potatoes in abundance, and furnishing pasturage for herds, in which natives begin to hold property. Second, A good market is opened for their products at Lahaina, within thirty miles, at which they can obtain cloth.

Third, Something has been done in the way of agriculture and internal improvements by the missionaries.

The station was first taken by the Rev. J. S. Green, with whom was afterwards associated the Rev. Richard Armstrong, both laborious and practical men.

Much benefit has also been derived here from the residence and labours of the blind preacher, Bartimeus, the first convert to Christianity at these islands. He died, beloved and lamented, in September, 1844. But his works do follow him, and shall be had in everlasting remembrance. A little memoir of this good man has been published, and a larger work on his life and times is said to be in preparation by the first pastor of the Wailuku church.

The influence of the Female Seminary located here has undoubtedly also been great and salutary. It was commenced by Mr. Green, in 1837, by the erection of a substantial stone building, fifty-six feet long by twentyfour wide, and two stories high. Thirty pupils were admitted that year, and an excellent female teacher associated in the instruction and care of them, who continues to occupy a post of so much usefulness. In 1840, the charge of the school was given to Mr. Bailey, which he still retains. The largest number of pupils at any one time has been seventy. The present number is fifty-two.

Besides the stone building first erected, there are now a fine chapel forty feet long, furnished with desks, seats, and school apparatus; two neat lecture and recitation rooms, floored, painted, and whitewashed; two ranges of adobe buidings for dormitories, one hundred and twenty feet long, in front and rear of the chapel; thirty acres of land enclosed and under cultivation by a native farmer attached to the institution, and eight native labourers.

The time of the pupils is employed as follows: one hour from early rising in the garden, then prayers and

breakfast, recreations and miscellaneous work till nine; then two hours with Miss Ogden in spinning, knitting, and sewing; bathing, relaxation, and dinner, till two; then two hours of recitation and study with Mr. Bailey, followed by an hour's work in the garden; supper between five and six; evening prayers at half-past seven; hours of retiring, eight and nine, according to their ages.

More time was at first spent within doors and in study; but it was found detrimental to health, and that the Hawaiian constitution, used to indolence, freedom, and sunshine, could not bear much confinement without giving way. Weekly excursions are now taken with their teacher to the mountain or sea-shore, and care is used to keep them much in the open air. The health of the school is consequently better, and they form a company of hearty, happy girls, as fond of a romp and ball-playing, and as glad to be noticed, as ever boarding-school girls are in America.

Five of them are members of the church, and several others are hopefully pious. Ten or twelve having finished their course, have been married to graduates from Lahainaluna, and others are held in reserve for the same market.

The design of the Female Seminary, says Mr. Dibble, is to take a class of young females into a boarding-school, away, in a measure, from the contaminating influences of heathen society; to train them to habits of industry, neatness, and order; to instruct them in employments suited to their sex; to cultivate their minds; to improve their manners, and to instil the principles of religion; to fit them to be suitable companions for the scholars of the Mission Seminary, and examples of propriety among the females of the Sandwich Islands.

The short time in which the institution has been in operation hardly authorizes a judgment as to how far

these ends have been answered. But no one who examines it, and sees its practical working, can fail of the conviction that female family boarding-schools must form a very important instrumentality in the work of elevating this nation.

The women remaining as they now are, men, whatever pains may be bestowed on them, can get but little higher; while with every single degree of woman's ascent in the scale of civilization and goodness, you raise man two. The two lessons of chief importance for Hawaiian women to learn, are modesty and industry. Induce these, and everything is gained-the end of female education at present answered. But a training that does not accomplish this, fails entirely, how much soever knowledge may be communicated, or art learned.

Let an Hawaiian female be only modest and industrious, and she will make a neat and prudent wife, and a better mother than ever Hawaiian boy has had yet. Many such, we cannot but hope, will be made under the management of the teachers of this institution. May God give them wisdom and skill, and permit them to see all, on whom they have bestowed pains, examples of womanly propriety to the females of Hawaii-nei!

It is impossible to see them going in a body to the sanctuary, uniformly apparelled, sitting orderly by themselves, attending, many of them, diligently to sermons, that they may sustain an examination on them, and looked upon with regard and interest by the rest of the congregation, without being convinced that the indirect influence of the institution is beneficial and great. Perhaps it is to be attributed to this, that the common schools in this district are reported the present year more favourably of, and as in a better state than in any other field from which a report is made.