throwing her arms around him, insisted on his going no farther. While Captain Cook still urged him to proceed, news was brought that Limu, a person of distinction, and a great favourite among the people, had been killed by a shot from one of the boats on the opposite side of the bay.

This information at once determined the king to remain on shore, and at the same time aroused the indignation of the natives to the highest pitch. Ignorant of what had transpired, Captain Cook continued to invite the king to accompany him; but he remained sient and pensive, while his attendants and others gave vent to their feelings by threats nd insults. Incensed at this conduct, and hinking his life in danger, Cook turned and red at one of the foremost persons, who hapened to be a chief of some rank, and who ell mortally wounded. This decided the atter, and the natives made an almost inantaneous attack with stones, clubs, and ears. Cook again discharged his musket, s men at the same time opening a brisk fire; at it was of no avail. He then retreated stily towards one of the boats; but just as had reached the water's edge, was stabbed the back by one of the chiefs, and fell adlong into the water.

Thus died the enterprising and renowned ptain Cook!

should not have detailed thus particularly

the circumstances which led to this choly occurrence, if they did not thr on the character and condition of th ers at the period when they took plac interest in these misguided people, a desire to know more about them, abated, I presume, by having learne thing of their early history, and the ble result of this first visit of the Eur

For many years after this event, 1 known of the Sandwich Islands. TH occasionally visited by foreign ships was not until near the commenceme present century that they began to at attention of the civilized world to ar derable extent. About that time, meha, the king of Hawaii, having quest acquired dominion over all th islands, became anxious that his should enjoy the benefits arising fro course and trade with strangers; and to the practice of his predecessors, tr who touched there with great kind generosity. In consequence of this more frequently than before visited rican and English vessels-until at before the missionaries arrived there, his islands had become a favourite resort for ships of all nations, in their across the North Pacific Ocean.

I shall endeavour, in future letters you a correct view of the character an

of the Sandwich Islanders, previously to their receiving the American missionaries; and afterwards point out the benefits which, by the blessing of God, have resulted from missionary labours.-Yours,

MY DEAR L.-Having in a former letter iven you an account of the discovery of the andwich Islands, and of the death of Captain ook, their discoverer, I shall proceed to show ou the circumstances in which the American issionaries found the inhabitants on their -st landing among them, in the Spring of 320; and first, I will describe their personal pearance. They have all dark complexions, eir hair being of a brownish black, and neier entirely curling, like that of the African, always strait, like that of the North Amean Indian. Their countenances are rather and open, their bodies generally well ned, and their movements majestic and ceful. As to size, there is a surprising difference ween the lower class of people and the efs or nobles,-the former being of small ure, and meagre appearance; while the er have not only very large frames, but are emely corpulent: some of the

probably from difference of diet an living; the chiefs living at their eas joying every luxury the islands aff the poorer people are pining with h wretchedness.

I cannot, however, give you a of the general appearance of thes than you may get by reading the description of them, taken from th of Mr. Stewart.

"A first sight of these wretched he says, "was almost overwhelmin naked figures and wild expression nance, their black hair streaming i as they hurried the canoe over the all the eager action and muscular savages, their rapid and unintellig mations, and whole exhibition of u character, gave to them the appeara ing half man and half beast, and pressed on our minds the query, 'C men-can they be women-do they link in the creation, connecting mo brute?' This indeed seemed to be t impression; the officer heading the to the shore, on his return, exclai ascended the deck, Well, if I ne saw brutes in shape of men, I have this morning' and addressing hims one of our company, added, 'You live among such a people as this, be obliged to take you back with u