were very rigidly observed. We have said, that the taboo system has probably been in operation thousands of years. Our reasons for thinking so are these: the same system prevailed in the Society Islands, at the distance of three thousand miles nearly, and in New Zealand, at the distance of five thousand miles; while the New Zealanders have been so long separated from the Sandwich Islanders, that the languages of the two classes of people have become exceedingly different. The inhabitants of these remote islands probably never had any communication with each other till very recently, and now in European and American vessels only. But they must have descended from the same race of men, after the taboo system had been formed and was in full operation. This must have been long ago; but how long it would be useless to conjecture.

Captains Blair and Clark, left Owyhee about the 25th of November, and carried down to Woahoo and Atooi the king's orders to burn the monuments of idolatry there also. The order was promptly obeyed in both islands. In Atooi the morais and all the consecrated buildings, with the idols, were on fire the first evening after the order arrived.

The people of all these islands had heard what had been done at the Society Islands; and there is no doubt that Providence. made use of this intelligence to prepare them for so wonderful a change. Capt. Blair informs us, that a native chief, named Tiamoko, called by Americans Governor Cox, has been for some time inclined to speak very contemptuously of the whole system of idolatry. He was the chief man in the island of Mowee. The chiefs and people in all the islands expressed a desire that missionaries might arrive, and teach them to read and write, as the people of the Society Islands had been taught. Tamorec, king of Atooi, and father of George, who went with the missionaries, was particularly desirous that teachers should arrive. He was very anxious to see his son, and has sent one of his subjects by a vessel now on her way from Canton to Boston, with an express order for George to return. He has also manifested a great wish to visit Pomare, at Otaheite, and see for himself the change that has taken place there.

Both captain Blair and captain Clark, who have been acquainted with these islands for more than 20 years, are confident, that the missionaries will be joyfully received by the natives; that now is the very time for their arrival; and that their services are peculiarly necessary to introduce the truth after the destruction of idolatry.

It is hoped that the missionaries arrived and were landed at least too months ago. What trials, or what encouragements, they have met with, we know not. To the care and direction of a merciful Providence let them be commended daily by all the friends of missions.

Panoplist.

UNITED STATES.-OSAGE MISSION.

Extract of a letter from a young lady, one of the Mission, to L. LOCKWOOD, Esq. of Bridgeport, Conn. dated, on board the Mission Boat, May 31 to June 9th, 1820.

BELOVED UNCLE-Each letter which I have received from you, has brought me under renewed obligations of gratitude. In return, what can I render? You do not expect me to return an adequate compensation. You will, however, expect me to relieve the anxiety of your mind, by communicating, as opportunity presents, any thing that may be interesting. I find myself agreeably situated on board this floating habitation; a member of a family united in bonds of Christian affection, gliding gently down the beautiful Ohio: now enjoying the pleasant scenery of the banks and rising hills, covered with the verdure of the forest trees, gradually rising one above another in majestic beauty; then a little low cottage or some noble farm house appears in view.

We

When in Pittsburgh, we enjoyed Christian society and the blessings of the sanctuary. We left Pittsburgh on the 24th. We proceed about 50 miles a day. The river is in pretty good order to descend, considering the lateness of the season. spent the last Lord's day in Marietta; esteeming it a privilege, that so far from our homes, we may meet with the people of God, in a house consecrated to his service. Marietta is pleasantly situated on each side of the mouth of the Muskingum. The Rev. Mr. Robbins is a settled minister over the Presbyterian church. Christians there, are rejoicing in the prospects of a revival, or rather in the commencement of one. They numbered rising of 20 that were under solemn impressions. The people here brought in of their worldly substance for the use of the mission.

June 5th. My time, since this boat has been my habitation, has been much employed. Our family consists of 26 persons, including Mr. Vail's four children. We have a pilot at the helm of each boat; two employed as oarmen, who are to accompany us to the place of destination. A wheel-right, of the Baptist denomination, was providentially, as we trust, found at Marietta, who volunteers his services for the promotion of Christ's cause.

You will perhaps think that we cannot be very comfortable so many of us in so small apartments; but I can assure you we are very comfortable. We have each of us a place for lodging on the side of our apartment. We all sleep on matrasses quietly, sweetly, and generally rise refreshed. A bell was provided in Pittsburgh, which is rung at four in the morning, for the family to rise. It rings again at half past four for the family to assemble, when we hear a portion of scripture read, sing a hymn, and unite in prayer. After the close of these exercises, the boats are loosed from each other and from the shore, and we immediately

commence our daily voyage, borne by the gentle current towards the interesting place of our destination.-The boats come together at the ringing of the bell, for our meals. The motion is so gradual, that we can read, write, or work, without the least interruption.

June 9th. We spent the last Lord's day pleasantly in Augusta, Ken. The Presbyterian minister of that place, Mr. Mac Caulley, We arrived in appears to be a truly excellent and godly man. Cincinnati on Monday the 5th. The brethren took in provision, hired three more men to be dismissed at pleasure, or to accompany us to Union, if their conduct be suitable. We were detained in Cincinnati, till yesterday about 11 A. M.-enjoyed the society of Christians while there. They have two Presbyterian ministers settled there. The city is much larger than I expected, and appears to be rapidly increasing. Christians think, and probably justly, that vital piety does not increase as fast as population and science. They have a large brick building used as a Lancasterian school, grammar school, college and museum. Reflections peculiarly solemn occupied my mind on leaving this place. Christians here, as in other places, assembled on the banks of the river, to give us their parting blessing. A hymn was sung. President Slack prayed. The Rev. Mr. Wilson gave the family a solemn, interesting, and affectionate address. Judicious persons, who are interested in behalf of the mission, manifest an anxiety with respect to our health, going south this season of the year. As yet, we have been blessed with health. How long it will please God to continue it, I know not, nor do I desire to know. His will be done, and all will be well; sickness or death, life or health. Sweet will be the hour when we are released from these decaying tabernacles, and received into the arms of everlasting love, to extol, through eternity, the infinite richness of divine grace.

Be not anxious about me, I am safe and in perfect health. Think not of me as a stranger in a strange land, but think of me as bountifully supplied by the kind hand of our heavenly Father, with every needed good, surrounded by a pious, attentive, affectionate family.

UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Summary of the Fourth Annual Report, presented at the annual meeting, May 20, 1820.

(Concluded from page 187)

"From Brainerd our missionaries proceeded to Fort Deposit, where they were detained two days to hold a talk with six or eight of the most respectable chiefs, who intended going to the Arkansas in the fall. The talk addressed by them, to their friends on the Arkansas, was dated June 23d, 1819, and is as follows:VOL. VII.

2 D

"Friends and Brothers-We have had the pleasure to have Messrs. Chapman and Vinall, missionaries from New-York, with us for two days. They have come a great way. We ap prove of their object. We wish our children to be educated, and we are much pleased to know that they, as well as the good men that have sent them to us, are thus disposed to do good to our children. We feel the want of those things which they will teach our children, and which we are sensible will prove beneficial to them. They come well recommended. They have recommendations from the Department of War, and also from the Department of State, and from the honourable society which have sent them. We do, therefore, request all those chiefs who are now in the Arkansas country to receive these missionaries kindly, as our friends and brothers, and render them all the assistance in their power in establishing schools among the Cherokees, and in endeavouring to establish schools among the neighbouring tribes. And let us manifest, said they, by our conduct, that the Cherokees are not behind any other red people in acknowledging the endeavours of good white men, to raise our youth to equal privileges with those of any of the nations of the earth.' This talk was signed by the beloved man or king, and by twenty-three warri-*

ors.

"In their journey from Fort Deposit, Tennessee, to Dardanalles, the missionaries suffered considerably from unwholesome water, want of provisions, and heavy rains. They observed, that there are no inhabitants, white or red, between Muscle Shoals and Chickasaw Bluffs, on the Mississippi, and very few animals. It is, therefore, so far from being a howling wilderness, that it rather seemed, in their apprehension, to have the stillness of the house of death. After encountering the difficulties above named, and others which arose from the overflowing of the low grounds, through which they had to pass, and from crossing rivers, they arrived safely at the Arkansas on the 13th of July.

They immediately waited on the beloved man, who expressed great satisfaction from their visit, and promised, after conversing with some of his chiefs, to call a council. A few days after their arrival our missionaries were both seized with bilious fever, and confined by it for four weeks. The time for holding the council having arrived before they were sufficiently recovered to transact their own business, they committed it to the United States agent, Mr. Lewis, who obtained for them the following talk:

"We, the undersigned chiefs of the Cherokee nation, on the Arkansas, in behalf of ourselves and our nation, in general council assembled, this 3d day of August, 1819, having been applied to by our brothers, Epaphras Chapman and Job P. Vinall, missionaries, acting under the instructions of the United Foreign Missionary Society of New-York, for the purpose of establishing schools within our nation for the education of our children, and for the introduc

tion of mechanics, for the use and benefit of our nation, and of the school; do hereby, with our entire approbation, consent to their wishes, provided they establish themselves within a few miles of our eastern boundary line. We are desirous of having as many, and such kinds of mechanics, as may be most for the benefit of the nation, especially wheel-wrights.

"We wish it expressly understood, that if, after the mission. aries have establised themselves, their conduct be such as to meet our approbation, we will protect and love them for a long time; but provided their conduct generally, or any of them, should prove disagreeable to our nation, we reserve the right of having the whole of them, or any part of them, removed from our lands, by the authority of a general council. It is our wish that the mission should be established among us as soon as possible. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands, the day and date above written.'

"The above talk was signed by sixteen chiefs, in the presence of several witnesses, attested by Major Lewis, as a true copy, the original being filed in his office.

"Between August 17th and September 1st, Mr. Vinall's health being much improved, our missionaries accompanied Major Lewis to the garrison, at the junction of the river Poteau with the Arkansas, to attend the council there to be held between the Cherokees and the Osages. At that place they were kindly received, and were introduced to the Osage chiefs under the most advantageous circumstances. The object of their mission having been explained, and the address of the society presented, they were much pleased, and made a reply, dated Fort Smith, September 27th, 1819.

"All of you Fathers,-I shake hands with you, and the Great Spirit is witness that it is with a good heart. In shaking hands with you, I embrace all my white brethren.' Having, after this introduction, expressed their thanks to their great father at Washington for sending his white children to instruct them, signified their desire that their young men might be initiated in the mechanic arts, their young women in domestic economy, and that all their young people might be taught to read and write, they concluded with saying, 'I shall consider the house which our great father will build for the education of our children our home as we do this place. I wish our great father would send us the teachers as soon as he can, with their necessary equipments. I shook hands with our great father at Washington, and I still hold it fast. We must all have one tongue.'

"This speech was signed by nine chiefs. After the above talk the Bible was shown them, and they were told that it was the talk of the Great Spirit, and that he had put his word in a book, that it might be kept, and communicated to every nation of