LETTER FROM MR. LYONS, JANUARY 26, small; and it is to be hoped that they will be re 1852. Report from Waimea. claimed. The great wonder is, "that intemperance is not more prevalent." The fact that there is so little of this evil among the natives, he ascribes to the influence of the gospel. "The religious principle in almost any Hawaiian com The following contrast, drawn by one who speaks of what he has seen, cannot fail to awaken the gratitude of all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. MR. LYONS, in submitting another of his annual reports, presents a cheerful and encouraging view of the district committed to his supervision.munity is strong.” "Some of the churches in my field," he says, "have been revived, and converts have been multiplied. Eighty-two have been received into the church, and some forty stand propounded for admission at a future time. About fifty backsliders and apostates have been reclaimed." And the friends of the Hawaiian nation will be glad to learn that the year 1851 was remarkably healthy. “I have never known a year," Mr. Lyon says, "so free from sickness and death." “In Waimea the births have exceeded the deaths by about one half." On another subject Mr. Lyons writes as follows: "When I closed my last report, there were two Mormon priests in my field, laboring to convert both natives and foreigners to their religion. One of them soon left for Salt Lake, regarding us all as in a hopeless state. The other remained, hoping that some might be saved. But alas! the few converts whom he had made, deserted him; and he was left alone. His character being not altogether spotless, his supporters cast him off; and he finally disappeared. Such is the end of our Mormonism." Mr. Lyons speaks less favorably in regard to the temperance of the Hawaiians residing in his field. "Drunkenness," he says, "can no longer be said to be confined to foreigners; it has found 11 VOL. XLVIII. It is nearly twenty years since I came wilderness. The to Waimea, then a people were elevated but little abovesavages. There were schools; but knowledge was in its infancy. There was clothing; but it was nearly all of Hawaiian manufacture. Only here and The inhabitants, moreover, were half there was a foreign article to be seen. naked. There was a code of laws; but it was contained in a pamphlet of fifteen pages. There were land holders; but they were chiefs or their favorites. Men there were; but they were not their own; for they were the property of the chiefs.. The feudal system was in full force.. Children were subject to taxation, and that even before their birth. A church existed, consisting of but nineteen members; and these were scattered over Waimea, Hamakua and Kohala. No system of benevolence had been introduced. Such a thing as at contribution for charitable purposes was unknown. Indeed, there was nothing that could be given, except kapa, vegetables, or manual labor, no money being in circulation. There was temperance, but no such thing as a temperance society. In November last Mr. Coan went through the district of Puna, accompanied by the superintendent of schools, preaching the gospel, administering the Lord's supper, attending school examinations and temperance celebrations, and doing whatever else seemed to be called for by the wants of the people. He went first to Kealakowo, a small village built on naked lava rocks, and resorted to for the purpose of taking fish and How is it now, after the lapse of twenty years? The wilderness is become a fruitful field, budding and blos-making salt. In going from Hilo to this place he soming as the rose. The half savage gave the preference to "the mountain_route,” inhabitants are moving about in the cosmore than half of which lay through "a dreary tume of civilization. Education has desert, without house or human being." "I was reached the stage of manhood. Schools two days on the way," he says, "and during this are flourishing under the patronage of time the rain fell almost incessantly. On the the native government. We have a code second day, from morning till night, we found of laws, consisting of three volumes and no hut, no shelter, not even a dry log or stone on several hundred pages. Feudalism has which to rest for a moment." 66 We pressed vanished, and the common people have become owners of land. They can call forward without a halt, our words being few and themselves their own masters; and they far between, and arrived at our destination at seven o'clock in the evening, having been on our can choose their own representatives, and send them to the national legislature feet for twelve hours, and having traveled thirtyto advocate their rights. Children under five miles through bush, bog, mud and jungle.” fifteen years of age are freed from all taxation. The church records show a catalogue of six thousand five hundred members, exclusive of two thousand belonging to Kohala, which was then a part of this field. Benevolence has assumed a somewhat systematic form. The missionary is maintained in part by the contributions of his churches; and the various societies for enlightening and saving the world share in the sympathies, prayers and charities of this once heathen but now Christian community. Temperance has stood up and summoned the whole population to form one consolidated temperance society; and the summons has been responded to. Such a society has been formed; and almost every person is enrolled among its members. LETTERS FROM MR. COAN. Two busy days were spent at Kealakowo, after which Mr. Coan proceeded to Kalapana, distant fifteen miles, a part of the way being over black and naked lava, “ burning and glowing in a tropical sun, without water, without tree or shrub, without so much as the 'shadow of a great rock,' to refresh the panting and weary traveler." The region about Kalapana, however, was more fertile and more populous than that which he had just left. Every hour, from Friday afternoon to Tuesday morning, was fully occupied; and "a wakeful interest continued till the last," the place of assembly being filled to overflowing. The two following days were spent at a place fifteen miles distant; and Mr. Coan then went ten miles further to a beautiful tropical region, adorned with breadfruit trees, cocoanut trees, &c., where he remained till the succeeding Monday. The last out-station visited was fifteen miles further on the way to Hilo; and the route lay through a rough and poor country, sparsely inhabited, and across the lava stream of 1840, near the ocean. Our missionary brother found the smoke still issuing from the jagged and blackened mass, from one to four miles in breadth; and the fissures were still so hot that the hand cannot be held over them. His return to Hilo was in " a great and flooding rain." Two letters have been received from Mr. Coan, in which he brings down the history of his station to the 12th of February. Under date of January 30, he wrote as follows: "Since my last letter I have made two tours through Puna and two through Hilo. I found the church in a In concluding his narrative Mr. Coan says: peaceful state; and in many places the members" Our tour, though laborious, was interesting and were active and spiritual. The faith of many is more firm, their love more constant, their judgment more enlightened and mature, and their consecration to the Lord more active. At almost every station some were found, who were seeking after God, or hoping in his mercy. Many old candidates were admitted to the church, and new ones were examined." profitable. Every where the people came out in throngs; and every where they seemed interested and joyful. The rain continued much of the time we were in Puna; and yet nearly all the people were in attendance; while the collections taken up amounted to ninety dollars." "All are poor; but most of them obtain a comfortable Hawaiian living." They are kind, hospitable and decile; and if there are any praying souls | pastor. The amount was twenty dollars on earth, I am sure that some of them are in and a half. Two similar collections had Puna." been previously taken up, the first amounting to eight dollars and the second to sixteen. In December Mr. Coan and Dr. Wetmore performed a similar tour in Hilo. "There was a good attendance at the different stations; and a lively interest was manifested in all the exercises. The Sabbath congregations were crowded, especially on the last Sabbath, when probably less than half of those who came together, were able to enter the meeting-house." At some of the out-stations all ate at tables, and had a good supply of pitchers, tumblers, bowls, plates, spoons, knives, forks, &c. In such things Hilo is in advance of Puna. But few deaths comparatively have occurred in Mr. Coan's field during the past year. The attendance upon the means of grace has been good, and the Sabbath schools are prosperous. The collections at the monthly concerts vary from twenty to fifty dollars, " according to the state of the money market." "Our people," Mr. Coan says, "do not hoard wealth. If they have money, they use it." The number admitted to the ordinances of the gospel, during the eight months previous to the date of this letter, was one hundred and thirty-seven; and many remain as candidates for the same privilege. Hawaiian Picnic. Mr. Coan wrote again on the 12th of February, reporting a variety of incidents, some of which are valuable as illustrating the progress of the Sandwich Islanders. All the events described in this letter occurred at the station. After the collection a discussion arose at the table, a motion having been made to reduce the minimum fee of admittance from twenty-five to twelve and a half cents. One aged matron, of "full habits" and ample mouth, argued strongly that the fee ought to be reduced; that many wished to unite in the pic-nic, but were deterred by the twenty-five cents; that it was impolitic and unjust to keep them out, &c. Another lady arose and Opposed the motion for reduction, showing that its only effect would be to inmales; that there was no one in health, dulge a set of indolent and covetous fewho could not obtain twenty-five cents for this semi-annual feast; and that there were many who wished to put off God with twelve and a half cents, who could spend ten, twenty or thirty dollars on silks, satins, wreaths, jewels, &c., to adorn their dying bodies. "Extreme folly!" cried the speaker, with great emphasis. "We will never consent. Let us consecrate our gain to the Lord, with our bodies and souls and our all. Let us keep clear of temptation and sin, and then we shall not want an offering for our Savior." The speech was rational, pious, energetic and decided; and nearly every head nodded assent. School Celebration. The school festivals in Hawaii have been often described in the pages of the Herald; but the following account differs somewhat from those which have preceded it. On the 30th of December fifty-six of the leading females of Hilo assembled for a picnic. The arrangements had been previously made, the rules of the feast having been prescribed by those who belonged to the association. These rules were two. 1. Every member was On the first of January, 1852, the required to bring such articles of food schools near the station held their annual as were convenient. 2. No one was al- temperance festival. About five hunlowed to contribute less than twenty-five dred scholars and a large concourse of cents, the money to be appropriated to adults were present. Each school was the Micronesian mission. A long table neatly dressed in its chosen uniform, and was spread in the meeting-house, and each one adopted its distinctive banner. loaded with a great variety of Hawaiian After marching for an hour, with singeatables, such as roast pig, turkey, fowls, ing, &c., all returned to the meetingfish, poi, potatoes, bananas, pudding, &c. house, and sat down to loaded tables, &c. The ladies, in neat costumes, were prepared by their parents; and they satarranged on each side of the table; isfied their sharpened appetites to the while the pastor and his family, having full, while their parents and friends acted been invited, were seated at the head. as waiters. As all could not be accomAfter thanks and a short address, all pro-modated at one time, the adults occupied ceeded to the business in hand. When the dinner was over, the roll was called; and each one answered to her name by coming forward and depositing her contribution in the hands of the the second table. After dinner hymns and temperance odes were sung; and several of the schools rehearsed compositions, original and selected, in measured recitative, plaintive or lively, accompanied by uniform gestures, such as bowing and swaying of the body, oblique, perpendicular and undulating motions of the hands and arms. The movements were easy, graceful, and exactly timed. This exercise is called "pualu." Sometimes the pualu is commenced by a single voice, low, plaintive and striking, which hushes at once every other sound, creeps along every nerve, and holds every ear of a great congregation. Then comes the full chorus of twenty, fifty or a hundred voices, sometimes drawling and monotonous, sometimes rapid and animated, and sometimes plaintive and melancholy. The pualu is perhaps peculiarly Hawaiian; and the performance must be seen to be understood. Its effect is electrical. It will start a whole Hawaiian assembly to their feet, throw many upon seats, tables, window-sills, &c., in order to get a view of the performers. The exercises are sometimes performed in a sitting posture, sometimes not. In some of the school-houses the pualu has been successfully employed in committing to memory texts of Scripture, hymns, the multiplication table, tables of weights, measures, currency, and other lessons; but it had never before been introduced into the meeting-house on an anniversary occasion. Some were highly pleased with the exercise, and others were as highly displeased. Pursuant to a previous appointment, the schools, together with the parents of the pupils, friends and all interested, assembled on the 2d of January to discuss sundry topics, and to deliberate on subjects connected with education, morality, law, order and religion. The meeting was organized in due form as a deliberative assembly; and though the concourse was large, the most perfect order prevailed throughout. arose and said, "I am opposed i the pualu. It is vapid and foolish. inall nonsense. What wisdom, what go do we derive from it? What did we hear yesterday? Goats bleating and asses braying thus; (here the old patriarch bleated and brayed.) Do we come here to hear such things?" The old man sat down amidst a roar of laughter. But another class of speakers maintained that the pualu was not only harmless but useful. A graduate of the seminary at Lahainaluna argued from his own experience. Previous to the introduction of this exercise, it had been almost impossible to collect or to keep his scholars, or to interest and improve them while together. But now every child in the district, of suitable age, attends school regularly. All are interested, and the progress of all in the branches taught is decidedly greater than formerly. He said that Hawaiian children needed a little diversion to stimulate and interest their minds, and that so far from its proving a hinderance to mental progress, it had, when properly applied, a directly opposite effect. He illustrated his position by the effect of music on an army in battle, and very pertinently quoted the case of Bonaparte. But his own success was his grand argument. He appeared with a large, well clad, well furnished and happy school, recruited in a great measure through the influence of the pualu. But there was still another class of speakers, who might be called conservatives. They approved and they disapproved; they praised and they condemned; they saw good and evil, right and wrong, wisdom and folly in the pualu. They would not denounce and abandon it as having no good; nor would they adopt and recommend it without qualification. They would purge and prune it, casting off whatever was foolish, fictitious, or of evil tendency, reserving whatever was healthful and invigorating, and using it to assist and expedite in committing useful lessons to range of topics was quite comprehensive. The first question proposed for discus-memory. sion was as follows: "Is the pualu a The readers of the Herald will be interested proper and profitable exercise in our schools?" One class of debaters arose, to Hawaiian logic. It will be seen that the in knowing what other questions were subjected and denounced it as utterly silly, puerile, savoring of ancient heathenish customs, a waste of time, and calculated to dissipate the minds of children and divert them from severe and more important studies. A good old man by the name of Job, once a heathen and a murderer, The subject of taxation was discussed with no little shrewdness. The general principle being admitted, the discussion ran upon its application, explaining its uses, exposing its abuses, &c., &c. The 12 and do, Pr ll-tax, school-tax, land-tax, dog-tax, Last evening a sailor came to my on e evenue, &c., all came under review. house, and spent several hours. He Among other subjects proposed for knelt at family worship, seemed much discussion were the following: "Which affected, and said, on rising from his has made the greater havoc among na- knees, "This seems like home." I had tions, rum or the sword?" "Has Ha- no recollection of him; but he told us waii been blessed by the introduction of that he had visited Hilo in 1849, spoke foreigners?" "Has the discovery of the of the sermon he then heard, his intergold mines of California been a blessing view at our house, the resolution he then or a curse to the world?" "Would the formed, his subsequent history, the conerection of forts on Hawaii be a security stancy of his religious feelings, his visit to the kingdom?" "Are the visits of to England, &c. &c. The crew of his foreign vessels to our ports a blessing or ship have had no liberty on shore as yet; a curse to the Islands?" "Does the but he gained permission to call on us in building of war-ships, the casting of the evening; and he improved the opporguns, the manufacture of swords, &c. tunity in a manner not often seen among &c., tend to promote peace on earth?" A steady and increasing interest was kept up to the end; and all seemed to regret that the day was so short. Our Governor was present on both days; and he entered into the exercises with animation and great energy. He is quite a shrewd debater. 66 seamen. The Christians at Hilo appear to be making progress in cultivating the spirit of benevolence. Our contributions are always taken up on the Sabbath previous to the first Monday of the month, and in the following manner. After the morning sermon, On the 8th and 9th of January an an- which is always on the subject of benefinual convention was held, composed of cence or some kindred topic, the schools the teachers, school trustees, church are called in rotation; when school No. 1 officers, and leading men in Hilo and comes forward with the teacher, and Puna. "It was conducted," Mr. Coan each child drops his mite into the hat. says, after the manner of deliberative Thus the several schools are successively bodies. Perfect order was secured by led up by their teachers; and the deposthe adoption of three simple rules. I. its of each are kept distinct for the time No one shall leave the house without being. The parents come after the leave of the moderator. 2. There shall children in rotation, in the order of the be no conversation and no speaking ex-districts, the contribution of each seccept to the chair. 3. No one shall re- tion being also kept distinct until countturn home during the sessions, without ed. When the contributions have been leave of the convention expressed by collected the congregation is dismissed; vote." the money is counted; and in the afternoon the sum given by each company is reported, as also the sum total. It is a most exhilarating and delightful spectacle, to see the contributions of the little children, as they come forward in single file, and deposit their gifts. None give with such apparent cheerfulness. Their footsteps are light, their spirits buoyant, and their faces radiant with joy. Sabbath Services-Seamen-Benevolence. On the first Sabbath in January twenty-three persons were admitted to the church at Hilo. A contribution was taken up at the same time, amounting to about forty dollars, to aid in sending the gospel to the heathen. Canton. My Sabbath labors at present are, 1. Sabbath school at 9 A. M.; 2. preaching at 10 A. M.; 3. meeting of inquirers from 12 M. to 1 P. M.; 4. preaching at 13 P. M.; 5. preaching to seamen at LETTER FROM MR. BONNY, DECEMBER 3 P. M. It is often the case that I am not able to leave the native church from 17, 1851. the time I enter at 9 A. M. until the following extracts from his letter, though they do MR. BONNY is at present at Whampoa. The close of the fourth exercise at 3 P. M. Mr. Coan's week-day labors are not less abundant. His efforts in behalf of seamen occupy a portion of his time; and in this department he is often cheered by instances of unexpected reformation. not relate to his appropriate work, will doubtless be read with interest. Rhenish Mission in China. I have just returned from a ten days' excursion to visit Messrs. Genaehr and |