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Show 508 NEW ZEALAND. Dec. 1835. et as the evening drew to a close, the domestic sounds, the yfi el'd s of corn the distant country w.i th .I ts t rees now appear-ing like past:re-land, all might well be ~istaken f?r some part of it. Nor was it the triumphant feeling at seemg what Englishmen could effect, but it w.as so~ething of far more consequence· the object for whiCh this labour had been bestowed-the moral effect on the aborigines of this fine country. . The missionary system here appears to me different from that of Tahiti; much more attention is there paid to religious instruction, and to the direct improvement of the min~; here more to the arts of civilization. I do not doubt that m both cases, the same object is kept in view. Judging from the success alone, I should rather lean to the Tahiti side ; probably, however, each system i~ best adapte~ .to t~e cou~try where it is followed. The mmd of a Tahitian IS certamly one of a higher order ; and on the other hand, the New Zealander, not being able to pluck from the tree that shades his house the bread-fruit and banana, would naturally turn his attention with more readiness to the arts. When comparing the state of New Zealand with that of Tahiti, it should always be remembered, that from the respective forms of O'Overnment of the two countries, the missionaries here have had to labour at a task, many times more difficult. The reviewer of Mr. Earle's travels in the Quarterly Journal, by pointing out a more advantageous line of conduct for the missionaries, evidently considers that too much attention has been paid to religious instruction, in proportion to other subjects. This opinion being so very different from the one at which I arrived, any third person hearing the two sides, would probably conclude, that the missionaries had been the best judges, and had chosen the right path. Several young men were employed about the farm, who had been brought up by the missionaries ; having been redeemed by them from slavery. They were dressed in a shirt, jacket and trousers, and had a respectable appearance. J udging from one trifling anecdote, I should think they must be Dec. 1835. WAIMATE. 509 honest. Whe~ walking in the fields, a young labourer came up to Mr. Davies, and gave him a knife and gimlet, saying he had found them on the road, and did not know to whom they belonged ! These young men and boys appeared very merry and g~od-humoured. In the evening I saw a party of them at cncket: when I thought of the austerity of which the missionaries have been accused, I was amused by observing one of their own sons taking an active part in the game. A more decided and pleasing change was manifested in the young women, who acted as servants within the houses. Th~ir c~ean, tidy, and healthy appearance, like that of dairymaids m England, formed a wonderful contrast with the women of the filthy hovels in Kororadika. The wives of the missionaries tried to persuade them not to be tattooed · b~t a,;amous operator .having arrived from the south, the; said, We really must JUSt have a few lines on our lips ; else when we grow old our lips will shrivel, and we shall be so very ugly." Tattooing is not nearly so much practised as formerly ; but as it is a badge of distinction between the chief and the slave, it will not probably very soon be disused. So soon does any train of ideas become habitual, that the missionaries told me, that even in their eyes, a plain face looked mean, and not like that of a New Zealand gentleman. Late in the evening I went to Mr. Williams's house, where I passed the night. I found there a very large party of children, collected together for Christmas-day, and all sitting round a table at tea. I never saw a nicer or more merry group: and to think, that this was in the centre of the land of cannibalism, murder, and all atrocious crimes ! The cordiality and happiness so plainly pictured in the faces of the little circle, appeared equally felt by the older persons of the mission. DECEMBER 24TH.-ln the morning, prayers were read in the native tongue to the whole family. Mter breakfast, I rambled about the gardens and farm. This was a marketday, when the natives of the surrounding hamlets bring |