guide who accompanied him in his journey "He was," says Mr. Ellis, "rather a singular looking little man, between forty and fifty years of age. A thick bunch of long, black, curling hair shaded his wrinkled forehead; and another bunch of the same kind hung down behind each of his ears. The rest of his head was cropped as short as shears could make it. His small black eyes were ornamented with tattooed vandyke semicircles. Two goats, impressed in the same indelible manner, stood rampant over each brow; one, ke the supporter of a coat of arms, stood on ach side of his nose, and two more guarded he corners of his mouth. The upper part of is beard was shaven close, but that which rew under his chin was drawn together, raided for an inch or two, and then tied in a not, while the extremities below the knot pread out in curls like a tassel. A light hei was carelessly thrown over one shouler, and tied in a knot on the other, and a rge fan, made of cocoa nut leaves, in his nd, served to beat away the flies, or the ys, when either became too numerous or Dublesome." I have now, my dear L., mentioned some the circumstances that affect particularly great are our privileges, and how our obligations to our common Fa has secured to us these privileges! be grateful for those blessings by whi thus undeservedly distinguished; a all, let us remember that for the m which we improve them, we must o called into judgment.-Yours, MY DEAR L.-Before I go on to farther information as to the social mestic habits of the Sandwich Islan necessary that you should be awar vast difference which exists between dition of the chiefs, or privileged that of the poorer or labouring class distinction arises from their system o ment, which is an absolute monarc destiny of all the islands is at the di one individual, who rules the peop the title of king. The property, and lives of his subjects, are at his dispo power over them is unlimited. Before the conquest of Kameham island, and in some instances, eac into which the islands were divided verned by an independent king. B sent, the king of all the islands has appoint governors from among the his own pleasure; and to place th The chiefs exercise the same control over he people of the particular districts they goern, that the king does over the inhabitants f all the islands. These governors are very umerous, and each being surrounded by any personal friends and attendants, who e all fed from his storehouse, the burden of pporting them falls heavily enough on the ople. Before the settlement of the missionaries at the islands, the chiefs devoted t to eating, drinking, and sleeping; frequently in the sports and gam country, and attending the exhibitio dancers and musicians. They super to some extent, the labours of their and required the men around then vate the soil, construct the houses, noes, fishing nets, &c.; while th were employed in manufacturing cl and the various kinds of ornaments all this labour, there was not the s ducement to industry, excepting w from absolute want among the peopl fear in which they were held by the c deed, they seemed to have no idea ture of personal rights and property ever produce they were able to ra any other means to obtain, more tha an annual stated tax, was liable to b from them, at any moment, by comm king or chiefs. Thus the working classes were abject poverty, if not to absolute They seldom enjoyed a full meal, of the better kinds of food, being c taro and salt, as their main articles ence. That you may form an idea tent to which this 'oppression was will give you a fact, related by o missionaries, as having happened knowledge, in the Island of Oahu. A poor man," says he, "by some means obtained possession of a pig, when too small to make a meal for his family. He secreted it at a distance from his house, and fed it till it had grown to a size sufficient to afford the desired repast. It was then killed, and put into an oven, with the same precaution of secrecy; but when almost prepared for appetites whetted by long anticipation to an exquisite keenness, a caterer of the royal household unhappily came near, and, attracted to the spot by the savoury fumes of the baking pile, deliberately took a seat till the animal was cooked, and then bore off the promised banquet without ceremony or apology." Such being the practice of the chiefs and nobles, it was but natural to expect, that the people themselves, impelled by the cravings of hunger, should pilfer from each other, and even from their masters, whenever it could be one without detection. This, in fact, was he case. Fraud, deceit, and theft, were just s common as opportunity would allow; and sa necessary consequence of these vices, mutual distrust, falsehood, and treachery, ere universally prevalent. No man could ust even his friend; nor had he any reason - anticipate, that on the morrow, he should joy the fruit of the preceding day's labour. he present was anxiety and |