n to their
native Isles; and at times they fancy they can hear the spirits of
departed friends whistling round their houses, and noticing all the
transactions of the living. Singular as some of these notions and
opinions may appear, there is much to be met with in Christendom
equally at variance with reason; and I have heard from the pulpit, in
New-England, the following language: "I have no doubt in my own mind
that the blessed in Heaven look down on all the friends and scenes
they left behind, and are fully sensible of all things that take place
on earth!"

CHAPTER VIII.

This chapter, and the concluding remarks of the narrative, will be
collated from a Journal kept by Cyrus M. Hussey; and if there appear
occasionally some incidents similar to those recorded in the preceding
account, it is believed the value and interest of this history will
not be diminished by them.--Hussey commences thus:

About the last of April, myself and Lay were separated, destined to
different Islands, not knowing whether we should ever see each other
again. At night we arrived at an Island, and hauled up our canoe. We
found but few natives, but among the number was the mother of the
chief with whom I lived. She was very inquisitive respecting me, and
talked so incessantly through the night that I could not sleep. The
next morning we were employed in gathering breadfruit, for the purpose
of curing it for the winter. This employment continued about three
months, during which time I was very uneasy about my situation. At
intervals of leisure, when the old chief had no particular engagements
to engross his attention, he would launch his canoe and go and search
for fish; but my shoes having been taken from me, whenever I was
employed round the rough shores of the Island, my feet were so wounded
that I could hardly walk. The natives now commenced the destruction
of my clothing, and not being able to converse with them, I found it
very difficult to preserve my apparel. They often requested me to
divest myself of my clothing, and dress as they did, or rather not
dress at all. I made signs that the sun would burn me, if I should
expose myself to its scorching rays. When they found that persuasion
would not induce me to divest myself of clothing, they began to
destroy my clothes, by tearing them in pieces. It was some time before
I could understand their language, so as to inform them that the sun
would burn my back; and being robbed of my