and iron work, and
chests, and parts of a vessel, have been seen among the people, which
leaves no doubt that some unfortunate ship's company have been wrecked
on their shores or put off by them. Indeed, it is worthy of remark
that, with the exception of Tahiti, there is not a single group at which
we have touched where we have not had evidence that ships had been
attacked or wrecked, and a part, if not the whole, of the ship's company
cut off. In some, only boats' crews have been destroyed, as was the
fate of Captain Cook and his companions, but at several of the islands
several ships' crews have been captured, and the greater number of the
people killed and eaten. Indeed, such is the barbarous heathen and
debased condition of the countless inhabitants of this island-world of
the Pacific, that the navigation of these seas is indeed an undertaking
of great peril. No man can tell when he is safe, or at what moment the
treacherous islanders may not turn round and destroy him, just as they
did Captain Cook, and just as they have treated many other unfortunate
Englishmen since his time. Truly, it may be said, that these islands
lie in darkness and in the shadow of death. There is but one means by
which they can be changed--the sending to them the gospel. Yet my
brother seamen and the traders laugh at such a notion, and people at
home, who ought to know better, call it fanatical nonsense. I do not
wish to set my opinion up against that of others, but there are certain
points where a man can feel that he is right and others wrong, and this
is one of them. The gospel has power to change the evil heart. Nothing
else can do it. That never fails if accepted. God has said it. Why
should we doubt?

We hear that the people of this place are carrying on war with those of
another island. Some of the chiefs come and invite Captain Fuller to
help them, but he replies, that if they wish to fight, they must fight
among themselves. I would rather he had tried to dissuade them not to
fight at all. We make sail out of the harbour, and are becalmed not far
off a fortress on the summit of a high cliff which is to be attacked.

It is crowded with the whole population of the island. With our glasses
we can see clearly what is taking place. Soon the canoes from Pango
Pango, and of other tribes, their allies, appear. The people land, and
begin to scale the rock. Numbers are hurled down and killed, but others
climb up. Higher