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50 THE POLYNESIAN, SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1840. book of nature; it gratifies dosires of influence, au thority and respect ; and tbe missionary s well as his more worldly brother is not, without these, nor if he would be actively useful should he ; but above all, his culling makes him not only independent of the world in support, but "separates him from it in its most flattering and seductive aspects. He is equally apart front the stormy passions of politics, the greedy and soul-deadening struggles for gain, the allurements of rufiued wickedrtess, and tho scarce ly less dangerous fascinations of high-bred society. Want and vice are known to him but through errands of mercy. His then is a position to practically ex emplify the prayer of A"ur. Neither poor nor rich, withdrawn from t lie world, but actively engaged in usefulness "toward it, he occupies a peaceful relation toward bis.lVSker and, fellow man ; saved by faith in the One al.i respected for good works by the other,.', .jf'v , ?Each'itati6n in .life has undoubtedly trials and temptations peculiar to itself. No where can frail human nature be plaaced on earth out of their rqach. Every individual has some pet Satin or a legion of choice imps of his own, and it is only by watchful conflict they aro kept in any sort of decorum. The grace of God can alone make a good and f.iithful missionary, but once ono at the Hawaiian Islands, the favored jndividutl is placed on a pinnacle, where if he but watch well tho citadel, but few of the shafts of the common tempter can reach.- To sav that none do would be to say they we're saints and not men. I have ever found them the latter, but at tho same time my own honest convietion is, that it would be well were there more even ns tliev. Tho contrast between the American and French missionaries in one respect is verv striking. Devo tion to their causo is conspicuous in each. But their method of winning souls is widely differ ent. The Protestant literally plants himself in the nation; but instead of levelling himself dbvrn to the nitive standard, he builds his civilized and comfort able house, raises his family as, if he were still in Now England, plants, preaches, and waters. In short ho makes himself a civilized model for his pro selytes. This is expensive it is true, but it is u lite ral xemplification to the native of what Christianity has done for the white man. The argument of its utility could not be stronger presented. The Cath olics, so far as we have observed them, be'gin with the native in his hut. Without strip or purse, and I may say coat, lie visits him, sleeps on his mat and partakes of his fare. Those who have visited -the residences of the Catholic clergy find them plain and unfurnished to even the appearance of poverty. The Protestant calls the native to come up to him. The Catholic goes down to the native. Doth are equally zealous in civilizing and christianizing in ac cordance with their widely varying systems and ten ets. It is yet premature'to give an opinion as-to the respective adaptation of each to their several ends. The Protestant has done enough to show practically good results in part. The Catholic is still too recent for a correct comparison. . If I have been correctly informed, the common sense of even the natives of this island has been vast ly shocked by the exhibition of late of some very absurd so styled relics. However, since the the ex hibition of the holy garment of Reves, in the 19th century, humnn credulity is ripe for any thing even now. But I must cease reflections and on with my journey. J On the 14th I rode to Wailuku. The rood for the first six or seven miles passes gently down to the beach through a pleasant and fertile country. Tho remainder of the way is not particularly agreable, particularly if the sun is disposed to make reflections upon one in the passage over the sand hills which sknt the plain. The Wailuku plain which is some six or seven miles across by rather more in width, was once waving with fafl grass, and when Mr. White first camo to the island, trees six inches in diameter grew in it. Not a bush is now to be seen. The goals and cattlo h;ve exterminated tho grass and dug up the soil of tho plain, which dried by the sun, is now moving in "drifts to the leeward into the ocean, leaving a bare and sun-parched surface,, Tho windward beach which was once covered with a profuse vine that kept the sand in its place, is now travelling in huge wave-like heaps to tho other sido. The sand may be said to make a breach cloar across the isthmus. It is also filling up a large pond near by the famed golgotha. So light is it and so easily borne aloft by the furious winds that here uncheck ed sweep nvery thing before them, that at a distance, mingled, with the red dust of tthe plain, it resembles a conflagration ; the smoke arising from the burnt cities of tho plain. Every thing like 'vegetation is being killed. It may not be too late to remedy the evil to some extent, but it is a lamentable fact that this large extent of country, once covered with grass and trees is now a worse than barren waste. Wailuku with its numerous rills, rich valley and cultivated enclosures, affords an ugreeuble relief to tho general desolation of this region. There is wa ter enough both here and at Waikapu from the back valleys, to enlarge the cultivation greatly. On ap proaching Wailuku, its large Quaker-like stono church, school houso and other mission buildings, giyo it the resemblance of a factory town, How tamn and uninteresting all these native villages would appear, were the improvements of the mis sionaries removed. Wailuku ''being built on a rising ground, with mountains in the rear, and giant sand hills in front, makes a somewhat imposing appear ance from the number and regularity of its larger edifices, "most of which are connected with the fe male seminary. The soil here is very productive. I was much gratified with a visit to Mr. Bailey's garden, who has in a small compass a greater varie ty of plants, fiuits and vegetables, than I had sup posed even to exist on Maui. Among old acquaint ances, I noticed oats, asparagus, catnip.'spear-mint, iage, pepper-mint, dock-weed, herds-grass and other plants more than I can remember. Geraniums ten feet high were abundant, and growing as much high er as they could be supported. Tree figs of delicious flavor were also plentiful. It were impossible for mu to recollect one half the variety here cultivated. Mr. Bailey deserves much credit for his industry in raising and acclimating so many exotics, and were the natives sensible of their value, they would draw largely upon so prolific a nursery,' opportunely plac ed in the midst of one of the garden spots of Maui. The temperature of Wailuku is aiot excelled in evenness in this kingdom. Its range is from 70 to 83 deg. and what is vastly agroable, but few mos o'letoes, I slept without a net,- and am told it is common to do so. Barring its solitariness, it is a good place for Invalids. The nfssion families hos pitable and kind as they invariably are to tho stran ger, afford soo cty of the most favorable kind Lahaina is within five hours' ride, over a road how ever not often escelled in dust, heal, rocks and ray- ines. Ifhe mountain were removed, it would be well enough, and could be done in three hours. But os it will remain as long as the island lifts its head above the waters, though a second prophet of the faithful should arise, I would "respectfully suggest to the governor, that he would entitle himself to the abundant thanks of all Maui wayfarers, were he to employ upon it sorrle of his loafing population, who might as well be breaking up the vice of idleness in this vay as any other. The road hence to Lahaina, some 9 miles, is of a summer noon rathtt hot, but this the traveller expects, and when he reaches the the town he can cool himself by a sea-bath, which here inside the surf is excellent. On this my return to Lahahla I wandered into the churchyard, for the double purpose of seeing the church which is now unroofed, and of looking at the numerous grave-stones. Tho tower of the church had settled suddenly and given the workmen a fright, so that the walls must be rebuilt at a considerable expense This churchyard affords a great contrast to that of Honolulu. It is profusely verdant with grass, and shaded by the tail tocos and the more extended but shorter kos, the last in rich blossom. One of these trees had a trunk I should think 12 feet in circumference. Stranger dust to a great ex tent lies mingled with flie native soil. Many a sea man has here found his final resting phte, away from all kindred remains. But better this by far than the "unwept, unknelled, uncoflined and un known" ocean grave.' Some of the head-boards aro quaintly decorate!, if that be a proper term to apply to mortality's sign-board. Tho spouse of the worm and brother to the clay " has in some instan ces been famished, by his friends with not only a mnmento of his name, age and race, but a picture, ("heaven save the mark") generally a tawdry shop print of a male or female head, enclosed in a glass frame attached to the board. Thus a mourner reads the name of a lost wifo perhaps and looks upon a vision of attempted female loveliness, clothed in a French bonnet with all the accompanying et ceteras of tibands, collars and jewelry, with some encomiums upy.n vast virtue beneath. Somo one not having ob tained a lithograph had daubed a head in paint after such a manner that thero is not a Boniface's post in "ould Ireland," but would have groaned under such an accumulation , of ugliness if held out as a sign. Cliacun if son gout." This letter has elon gated itself to a most Alexandrine length, and I must clone o &ive your readers a breathing spell ; that is if they have not fallen out by tho wayside, before half through. A sedative however, is often useful in your over exhilirating atmosphere, and you may now thank me for one. rn u in . n n t r vr r;i or a m X IX Lj X KJ Xj I 1 liOtil HONOLULU, SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1816. Tahiti. . We have frequent arrivals from this place, but the difficulty attending the procuration of authentic intelligence concerning tho late hostilities is inconceivable to any one who has not tried it. Reports are rife, varying according to the temper of the parties. It would be gratifying to the public to obtain a correct version of the events of the present year. From our own correspondence we can only glean that during May and June, Gov. Brunt with 1000 men and a steamer, attacked the several camps of tho Tahitians at Papenoo, Hnutana and Bunaauia, and in the conflict lost several men in killed and wounded, including some superior officers. The natives remained masters of the interior, but were driven to great straits by the de struction of their cultivated grounds and the desolation of their valleys. Numbers have since come into the French lines and given up their arms. Three of tho English mis. sionaries offered to mediate before the late battle, but Gov. Bruat would grant no terms short of actual submission, Papeiti at the latest dates was quiet but the island general ly is in a sad condition. As tho French ap pear bent upon maintaining possession, it would be an act of mercy to the islanders to induce them to give up a system of hostilities which however much it may annoy and ex asperate the French, must end in their own destruction. Since writing tho above we have had the pleasure to receive from Capt". Bonnet of the French Transport Lion, the following letter containing a succinct account of the late events at Tahiti, which will not fail to inte rest our readers. Translation. Honolulu, August i ltha 1846. To Tin Editor or Trfe Polynesian: -!"" Mr. Editor: I hasten to reply to the letter with which you honored me, requesting a succinct account of the events which have lately taken place at Tahiti, in order to publish tho tame in your es teemed journal. It affords me the more pleasure, to comply with your invitation, that I feel the neces sity, as a Frenchman and a Patriot, of rectifying several erroneous and injurious assertions against the character of my nation, published in the newspaper called "The Friend," which in speaking of Tahiti, appears not always to be a truth-telling one, and to be wanting in that evangelic charity, which in other respects it professes. " ... f A few days after my departure from Tahiti, at the end of February last , some nativ e insurgents of Pa penoo, renewed their incursions and denredstions upon the territory of a Chief, subject to the Protect. J orate an expedition was then prepared, and at the moment they were about to set out for Paprnooj some relations of Pomaro, requested to attempt s their name, a new proceeding m Jbef fetor ttejr ap peared to think themselves certain of success; the Phaeton was placed at their disposal on: the 4lhof March; they returned a fow dayi after to Papeiti, td announce that Pomare could not be more favorably disposed and that she would have roturned to Tahiti, had it not been for her very advanced state of preg nancy. . f The relations of the Queen were themselves 16 impart this intelligence to the insurgents and set out again in the Pha?ton; every thing then tended to peace and communications for some time suspended, were re-established between Papenoo and Papeiti. 7owever, about the 20th of March, without any anoarent cause, nearlv 900 natives presented them- .selves before the block house of 7aapape, and vigor ously attacked it. Twenty foot soldiers, and about as manyof the natives, who formed the garrison, re nulsed the enemy and maintained their position ' till 8 o'clock in the evening; then being aided by a re inforcement by sea, they compelled the enemy to retreati . ' . . The next evening tho insurgents of Panavia, divi ded into two bodies, came by different roads, to at tack Papeiti, but they were so promptly and vigor ously attacked, that they had not time to carry off all their killed; it is well known they are very care ful in not letting them fall into the hands of their enemies. . 4. . On the 23rd of March, the insurgents having re turned to attack the block house of aapape, a sally was made by 45 Frenchmen and natives, allied, who overthrew them and forced them to flight, leaving in our hands one nine pounder, with its ammunition. During several days the insurgents did not show themselves in the neighborhood of our positions. About the 10th of April, the Phieton anchored at Papuan, in order to watch the movements of tho in surgents, and to prevent them from going to Morca, to massacre the wives and children of auxiliaries, as they had manifested tho intention of doing; our al lies were to get provisions upon this point, sustained by 50 light infantry. During this time 25 of the Phneton's crew had the temerity to attack 500 or 600 Kanakas, enclosed in their entrenchments, they did them considerable injury, bu, five of our men were killed and several others wounded. Admiral 7ainelin arrived in the Papeiti Roads on the 28th of April. In the meanwhile, the relations of Pomare were carrying on negotiations in her favor, which remained without result, decided Governor Bruat upon setting out, in the beginning of May, at the head of 1000 men, soldiers, seamen and allies, in order to drive the insurgents from their positions in Tapai, Papana and Ahona, which was done Without striking a blow. ' .. On tho 10th of May, the 4 forts which they had erected at Papenoo, tnade a lively resistance to our troops, who nevertheless took possession of them tho same day and pursued the enemy into impassable places. The French troops bivoucked during about twelve days in this part of the island, in order to destroy all the resources of the enemy, and to hinder them from re-establishing themselves there. The inhabitants of the valley of Fatahua were likewise driven from a very strong position which they occupied, and thair resources wero destroyed, to puniah them for depredations which they had com mitted a short timo before, near Papeiti. A block house was established upon the important position of Tapai, which opens tho communication with the eastern districts, in closing it to the insurgents of inai Biue oi me isianu. At tho latter end of May, the Expedition marched upon Panavia and took possession of tho fortifications of the insurgents, w ho were driven into a narrow de file, where they had concentrated their forces in an impregnable position, from whence, without being seen, and from the top of their rocky walls, they were enabled to fire upon our troops who could not see them, and to throw down enormous stones, which rolling upon our soldiers, in which manner several were severely wounded. It was neccf sary 1o give up the pursuit of the enemy, and destroy their resources. 4 This day cost us the brave Commander of the Brea, mortally wounded in the chest by a gunshot; Mr. Pcirot, a first class student, killed in the in trenchment, and three soldiers; among the wounded who number 15, are Lieutenant Malmanche, Chief of the Stan", who had to sutler amputation of the right leg; Mr. Clanierc, Captain of the 31st, and Sub-Lieutenant Lejeune, who had already received several wounds in the preceding actions, where we had 21 wounded. The number of officers wounded is considerable, if compared with tho romainder; this disproportion is explained by the tactics adopted by tho Kanakas, which consists, as much as possible, in directing their fire upon the chiefs, and because the latter,, walking at the head of their troops are actually more ex posed. ' A little before my departure, some insurgents hav ing descended into a valley, m the north, to collect provisions, were made prisoners and conducted to Tahiti, others came to surrender and lay down their arms to the commanding oflicer at Tapai. Thoso who remain in the mountains have to suffer cold hungor, and intestinal divisions, for some wish to persist, whilst others wish to surrender. Our troops were occupied in erecting fortifications in the posi tions formerly occupied by tho insurgents, and estab lishing artillery there. in tact sir, if the French Government could for one moment have entertained the idea of abandoning lahiti, now that tho land issnrinLU .:,h li..! of our soldiers, a similar thought is become impos- limn: and nntu.itliat.iiJ .. il. . i ....,.. ,..oluIlulIlfc, ,no assertions some time since set forth either by misinformed or jealous per sons, I make so bold as to affirm to you that all measures are taken to form at Tahiti a permanen and durable establishment, and with views of times to come. umes ,f V thC W0 the Wand of Huahine, and to the false and slanderous account which h. h. given of them by the Friend, (doubt le s m ntS m ed) mils numbers of the month of April a ,t and which it. editor had the delicate attenViSn to convey o me on board of my ship, I think I cannot do beU B lUy you a ,etter- whM one of mv friends who resided at Hu.hine during tbeVvents end who was as capable of judging of 'them a any one, has been good enough to wnu y me a detail thereof. C "te t0 "? fimnC thlt8hrantdj: f' of certa, , , ,rties, mat capt. Hammond, of th fiim,n. i whose handafbo Friend of th ik.k a "i u nto hastened formall ' o ,B li" ? fi! h" Wlen ed therein, and att fbS ed to one Sr i. iS' CnU,Ln- ba. played . part in the's? SK"."' h The above sir. ,U th,t , coad documents4 dating Vay star at Tahiti, and in inquiring from persons the best able to furnish me therewith. I place it at your; disposal, and authorise : you to give it all the publicity which you may think proper. I beg of you, Mr. Editor, to accept my profound salutations. (Signed) , BONNET. The Editor of the Friend probably expe rienced the same difficulty as ourself, in obtaining intelligence from Tahiti, which while it does justice to, both, parties will excite ill-will in neither. The public aro deeply interested in the progress of events there, and expect at the Tinnds of editors all the intelligence to be obtained. The sym-' pathies of the generous must incline towards the weak, and there are none perhaps who do not desire to see the Tahitians once more at peace in their native land. France how ever in extending her authority over them is doing no more than England at New Zealand and tho 'United States on the Continent of America towards the aboriginees in their vi cinity. The strong are swallowing up the weak the world over., and hardship and in justice are to a great extent "the necessary results. It is a sad comment upon the professed pruiciplerof chiatianized nations, that with their missionaries of peace and good will to inl mankind come wars and ex actions; end with their bibles, ardent spirits, good and evil frum the same hand. Accounts of the battle at fiuafcinc in Jan uary lust haW been already published here, but they at c not so full and candid as tho following relation which we extract from tho Samoan lleporter of March. , Conflict at Huahine. Two vessels have, ju-t arrived from Tahiti. By the first we received information which we deemed of an encouraging character, because it afi'oided promise of quiet, and the continuation of tho work of God in the Leeward Islands. It was to the cti'cct that Admiral Sir G. Seymour, in pursuance of despatches from home, had returned from the Sandwich to the Society Is lands, in November, in order to ascertain whether the Leeward Islands had formed part of the govern ment of Pomare; because if they had not, the Brit ish and French Governments had agreed that they should not be included in the Protectorate. The French Commissioner had been assured, by natives on his side, that they did belong to Pomare; but Sir George found evidence which satisfied him that each of tho larger leeward inlands hud an independent government. Ho therefore requested the French Commissipncr to withdraw the blockude from Rsia tca, and the officers who had been stationed wiih the consent of a small minoiity, at Borabora and Huahine. This the French Commissioner declined, but gave his word of honor that all things should remain statu quo until the decision of the parent Governments should be Known. Admiral Seymour left again for the Sandwich Islands in the end of November, having previously addrest-ed toTapos, chief of Borabora, Tamatoa, chief of Raistea, and Araiipaia, female chief of Huahine, the followin" letter. I, the commander-in-chiefof H G. M.'s Naval forces in the Pacific Ocean, acquaint you that it has been told the Government of Queen Victoria that tho chiefs of the Islands of Huahine, Itaiatae, and Borabora, deny that a treaty made by Queen Po mare could affect their islands, which have been always independent of Tahiti. The British Govern ment communicated this to the French Government who answered, that if the islands shall be proved to have been independent, that they will not be subject to the French Protectorate. It has there fere been agreed between the two Governments that evidence shall be taken to clear upthe doubts which exist as to the independence o f the Islands of Huahine, Ruiatca, and Borabora, and the French Comrnissioner'at Tahiti is directed by his Government to forward any testimony bearing upon the subject; and the officers under my command will be authorized to send any testimony to England which they may receive. The to Governments ill then examine and determine whether the Islands were nidependent or not. " I have moreover to declare to you that the Brit ish Government considers all nets which may have been or may bo taken in order to establish the French Protectorate m the Islands of Huahine, Raiatca. and .hl?,KOr-0, 0n,d lhe'' ndencie., to be invalid and that their independence should bo respected Until the doubts whir h nr. .:,! . . shall have been cleared up. " ""T" "1 he French Commissioner atTal.it! V... fa rrt nn you aurinrr tina innmru . . . .. hBVa " . Jou.w' ao wen to of Vh. PnJir t T ,nacPendence in the hands of the Governments of Great Britain and France; to have pat.ence, and to live during tho period which gZ 'IT 'FT" be now" Th " (S'8n!d') G. F. SEYMOUR." beln t.n ,VC8, V,nff, for nth previously esses ' 12 ,.'nd 'I1- ny f. them ,eft ,beir fort- 7&t;:i: thcir ,,Bdi-which hsd is aBffiict7vi i8 uette las "ived, the intelligence follow We collected the nlttU ftf H,CH AT 8ABOKA AND IlVAHlNK Battle at the latter Island. Sir G. Seymour sshVd Ninen,e0nr,h,,e fffdwlch ,IU on f Nov One of this party complained that Tano'. n.r.v had Dravantl Kim r. ., V . : "Poa Pa land tkV. VtWL ""W iood from h s own "Unnh ' cl? thn P"!.ty e2led' The Frigate -teame he t VdV " Phfn." this alledged injury. A "wM3a 3.ES