directions; the blasts were very severe at intervals of ten minutes. At 8 A. M., a sudden shift of wind took place to the southwest; after which it moderated, and at noon the weather became clear, the wind still continuing from the southwest, while the upper stratum of clouds was now seen to pass over from the northeast. The following day the wind was in the same direction, with fine clear weather. Mr Cunningham observes, that the houses were generally blown down. after the change of wind occurred.

The natives relate the occurrence of a similar gale, which did grea damage, about nine years before, destroying all the plantations; and, from their account, its changes took place in a similar manner, from the northeast to the southwest.

From the great fall of the barometer, and the fury and sudden change of the gale of the 16th, its centre must have passed over Apia.

Although these severe hurricanes do not happen very frequently at the Samoan Islands, yet, from reports that I received, I am disposed to believe that they occur very frequently between them and the Friendly Islands, where scarcely a season passes without some one of the islands suffering from one of these awful calamities.

It would therefore be advisable for our whale-ships to avoid cruising in the neighbourhood of these groups, during the season of the year that these storms are liable to occur, viz., from the middle of December to the end of March. Some ships have been almost made complete wrecks of, that were so unfortunate as to be overtaken by them.

At the Samoan Islands, curious atmospheric phenomena are not uncommon. I am indebted to the same source for several notices of halos, and of one in particular, which happened at Fasetootai, about twenty miles to the westward of Apia, on the 1st March, 1840. The day was very clear, and, till near noon, no clouds were seen; the sky was azure blue in the zenith, deepening into dark purple, or nearly black, on the horizon. At thirty minutes past noon, there was a white ring around the sun, of dazzling brightness, of five degrees width; beyond it, a ring of white hazy appearance, of the radius of fifteen degrees, a deep-blue colour still continuing between the sun and halo. At 1 P. M., prismatic colours spread over the whole, and were very bright. At two o'clock, they had heavy squalls at Fasetootai, with the wind at east-northeast. This phenomenon appears to have been local, for it was not observed at Apia, only twenty miles distant. The wind, however, during its continuance, was found to have changed to northwest-by-north, attended with heavy rain, and bad weather continued for a fortnight. Both Mr. Cunningham and

Mr. Williams assured me that the halos and parhelia were usually followed by bad weather.

At Apia, among their old acquaintances, they encountered Pea, the ruling chief of the place, whose begging propensities still existed in all their force. His form was equally rotund, and his desire of being of service quite as great. Report spoke of him as having become very religious of late, but his covetousness had not diminished in consequence, at least in the opinion of our officers. He was generally full of business, among his friends and relatives, all of whom he considers more or less as his dependants. He was very anxious to be informed what had become of his relative, Tuvai, the murderer, whom we had carried away from these islands on our former visit.

The missionaries were as attentive as formerly to the officers, and gave them every facility that lay in their power of spending their time usefully. They have been making progress in their efforts to civilize these natives, by establishing schools, and stimulating them to improve their condition. Almost every village now has its substantial whitewashed church, which also serves for a school-house; and, from the reports, both continue to be well attended. Some improvements were seen to have taken place in the dwellings, the arrangement of the interior having a more civilized look, not only from the numerous articles of European manufacture, but in an improved state of ventilation. The cattle and horses were on the increase, and there are few natives but have supplies of pigs, poultry, and the vegetables of the island.

Purser Speiden, who was the officer charged with procuring supplies, and superintending the trade with the natives, having found much difficulty in obtaining them alongside the ship, received permission to make arrangements for a suitable place on shore. For this purpose he procured a place to erect a pen for the pigs, &c. To show the exorbitant demands of the natives, and their desire to practise imposition, I will state the difficulties he encountered. In the first place, he had to pay for the site on which to build a pen; secondly, for the logs and poles to build it with; thirdly, for going after the timbers; fourthly, for building the pen; fifthly, for transferring the live-stock to it; sixthly, for services to a native to watch the pigs during the day and see that they did not escape; seventhly, to pay a man to collect cocoa-nuts for food; eighthly, to pay a woman to feed them; and ninthly, to pay a man to watch the pigs, taro, &c., during the night. Besides this, there was a charge made for trading under the large tree! This traffic seldom failed to afford much amusement to the lookers-on. In the centre, near the trunk of the

tree, was the trade-box, and near to it stood the trade-master, measuiing the fathoms of cloth. On one side were natives, seated with their cocoa-nuts and pigs, and others looking on; some again sitting aloof, because they could not obtain their price, or the article they wanted; and others watching their opportunity to obtain a small reward for some service. The vignette is from a sketch by Mr. Agate, of one of these parties at Apia.

In the account of my visit to this island the year previous, I have mentioned the intention of Mr. Williams to extend the missionary field to the groups west of the Feejees, and had occasion to refer to his melancholy end in carrying out this intention, and the recovery of his bones by H. B. M. sloop of war Favourite.

That occurrence, instead of damping the ardour of the survivors, has been the means of giving it a fresh impetus. Mr. Heath, who has become the successor to Mr. Williams, has made a cruise with a number of native missionaries, and succeeded in placing them in the very island which was the scene of the massacre, with every prospect of success.

The Camden was fitting out for another cruise, under the Rev. Mr. Murray, of Tutuila. Captain Hudson pressed upon them the expediency of a visit to the island that he had just discovered, Fakaafo or Bowditch; and it is to be hoped that ere long their enterprise may

lead them among this as yet uncontaminated people, who will then receive, coeval with their discovery, and prior to any contaminating influence, the truths of the gospel.

The plan adopted, of using native pioneers, seems to be one well calculated to succeed; and I am satisfied, from the view I have had of missionary operations, that it is the only one likely to give a foundation on which to raise any permanent superstructure.

The white missionaries have a vast many difficulties to contend with, and are very likely to be deceived in some respects, in consequence of their general want of knowledge of the world. These difficulties are principally the hypocrisy and deceit of the natives, who are adepts in the art, giving a false impression relative to their feelings and designs, particularly when they think their personal interest may be promoted by their dissimulation. This trait of character is not confined to individuals, but frequently extends to whole districts.

Influential natives, brought up as teachers, are well calculated for the duties of missionaries, and take pride in the performance of them, and being fully aware of the native character, understand well where to place their confidence. I have had occasion to speak of the enthusiastic manner in which they enter upon their duties.

I would not be understood as throwing any doubt over the expediency of the missionary operations in these islands, but my intention is to express my preference of the mode they are now adopting to spread the gospel into the other islands, a mode which I am well satisfied will be of infinite advantage in facilitating the desired effect, and at a much less cost, both of time and money.

No political change had taken place in the government. Malietoa and the Manono party still have the power in their hands, but reports were rife that the chief had been a backslider from his professions of Christianity, by attending some of the feasts of the devil's party. The consequence, as at his time of life may be readily imagined, was a fit of sickness, which has been considered as a judgment upon him, and caused his return with much contrition to his religious duties and observances. It is said, that during his illness there was much excitement among the high chiefs, in relation to the succession to his title, that of "Tupu," or sovereign; and some fears were entertained that an outbreak might occur, that would place the power in the hands of some of the restless spirits that are known to be averse to the missionaries. If, however, they have established themselves as firmly as appearances warrant one in believing, there cannot be much danger that their exertions will be retarded, much less put a stop to.

Among the visiters to the ships, was Mole, the second son of Malietoa

of whom we had formed a good opinion during our former visit, and who, it was then generally supposed, would succeed his father in authority. He is warmly attached to the missionary cause, and affords important aid in carrying out their plans, having much influence with his father, and restraining his evil propensities. He has the reputation of being very popular with the common people in the town of Sagana, where he resides and is a teacher. From him our gentlemen obtained the news of our friends among the nobility. Emma, his sister, whom we had all admired so much, and whose portrait is given in the second volume of this Narrative, was married to Samuel, the tall and handsome chief of Faleatii. The haughty Vavasa was in Manono, which was the case also with Malietoa. Tooa was absent, and, many other chiefs who have attended the fono, were at their districts. Opotuno was still in Savaii, on the alert to prevent surprise, and it was reported that he had made some advances to join the missionaries with his people; but little credit was given to this story. They also learned that at the time Captain Hudson was in search of him he was concealed, with a few of his followers, at a short distance.

For the first eight days after the Peacock's arrival, they had almost continual rain, with the wind varying from the north to west, and with a disagreeable swell setting into the harbour.

Tents were erected on shore to afford an opportunity for the necessary repairs to be made to the boats, and others for the use of the magnetic instruments.

On the 10th, they experienced a strong gale from the northwestward, with a heavy sea and torrents of rain. One of their anchors started, but they soon brought up with their sheet-anchor, although a ship would usually ride with very little strain upon her cables, owing to the strength of the tide, which causes her to lie nearly in the trough of the sea, and to roll very heavily. The stream of fresh water which empties into the harbour, has some tendency, when it is much swollen, to maintain a ship in this disagreeable position, by the force of its current. The harbour, through its discharges, is at times strewed with quantities of drift-wood.

The rain continued without intermission for nearly the whole time of their stay, so that no opportunity could be had of airing or drying the sails. So long a duration of wet, together with the heat, caused some fears relative to the health of the crew, and particularly those who were away in the boats, from their being more exposed to the weather. Every precaution was taken to prevent sickness.

A few days after they had been at anchor, Captain Hudson received a letter from Lieutenant Perry, who was of the surveying party, stating