The destructive effects of a hurricane on the is- with the roaring sea, the pelting rain, the howling land of Raratonga are thus described :

"The next day was the sabbath, and it was one of gloom and distress. The wind blew most furiously, and the rain descended in torrents, from morning until night. We held, however, our religious services as usual. Toward evening the storm increased; trees were rent, and houses began to fall. Among the latter was a large shed, formerly used as a temporary school-house, which buried my best boat in its ruins. We had waited with great anxiety during the day to hear from Mr. Buzacott, and as no information had arrived, we entertained a hope that the sea had subsided. But, instead of this, about nine o'clock, a note came to apprize me that it had risen to a most alarming height, that the vessel had been thumping on the stones the whole of the day, and that, at six o'clock, the roof that covered her was blown down and washed away. To complete. the evil tidings, the messenger told us that the sea had gone over the bank, and reached the school-house, which contained the rigging, copper, and stores of our vessel, and that if it continued to increase, the whole settlement would be endangered.

wind, the falling trees, and the infuriated appearance of the atmosphere, presented a spectacle the most sublime and terrible, which made us stand and tremble, and adore. On reaching the chapel, I was rejoiced to see it standing; but as we were passing, a resistless gust burst in the east end, and proved the premonitory signal of its destruction. The new school-house was lying in ruins by its side. Mr. Buzacott's excellent dwelling, which stood upon a stone foundation, was rent and unroofed. The inmates had fled, and the few natives who could attend were busily employed in removing the goods to a place of safety. Shortly after my arrival, a heavy sea burst in with devastating vengeance, and tore away the foundation of the chapel, which fell with a frightful crash. The same mighty wave rolled on in its destructive course, till it dashed against Mr. Buzacott's house, already mutilated with the storm, and laid it prostrate with the ground. The chief's wife came and conducted Mrs. Buzacott to her habitation, which was then standing; but shortly after they had reached it, the sea began to dash against it, and the wind tore off the roof, so that our poor fugitive sister and her three little children were obliged to take refuge in the mountains. AccompaAs the distance was eight miles, the night ter-nied by two or three faithful females, among whom rifically dark and dismal, and the rain pouring down like a deluge, I determined to wait till the morning. We spent a sleepless night, during which the howling of the tempest, the hollow roar of the billows as they burst upon the reef, the shouting of the natives, the falling of the houses, together with the writhing and creaking of our own dwelling, under the violence of the storm, were sufficient not merely to deprive us of sleep, but sufficient to strike terrour into the stoutest heart.

was the chief's wife, they waded nearly a mile through water, which in some places was several feet deep. On reaching the side of the hill, where they expected a temporary shelter, they had the severe mortification of finding that a huge tree had fallen upon and crushed the hut. Again they pursued their watery way in search of a cover from the storm, and at length reached a hut, which was crowded with women and children who had taken, refuge in it. They were, however, gladly welcomed, "Before daylight on the Monday morning I stand every possible assistance was rendered to lie. off for Avarua, and in order to avoid walking knee- viate their distress. Mr. Buzacott and myself had deep in water nearly all the way, and to escape the retired to a small house belonging to his servants, falling limbs of trees, which were being torn with which we had endeavoured to secure with ropes. violence from their trunks, I attempted to take the and into which all our books and property had been sea-side path; but the wind and rain were so violent conveyed. One wave, however, had dashed against that I found it impossible to make any progress. Iit; we therefore sent off a box or two of books and was therefore obliged to take the inland road, and by clothes to the mountains, and waited with trembling watching my opportunity, and running between the anxiety to know what would become of us. The fallen trees, I escaped without injury. When about rain was still descending in deluging torrents; the half way, I was met by some of my own work- angry lightning was darting its fiery streams among men, who were coming to inform me of the fearful the dense black clouds, which shrouded us in their devastation going on at the settlement. The sea,' gloom; the thunder, deep and loud, rolled and pealed they said, had risen to a great height, and had through the heavens; and the whole island-tremswept away the store-house and all its contents; the bled to its very centre, as the infuriated billows burst vessel was driven in against the bank, upon which upon its shores. The crisis had arrived: this was she was lifted with every wave, and fell off again the hour of our greatest anxiety; but man's exwhen it receded! After a trying walk, thoroughly tremity is God's opportunity;' and never was the drenched, cold and exhausted, I reached the settle- sentiment expressed in this beautiful sentence more ment, which presented a scene of fearful desolation, signally illustrated than at this moment, for the wind the very sight of which filled me with dismay. I shifted suddenly a few points to the west, which supposed, indeed, that much damage had been done, was a signal to the sea to cease its ravages, and rebut I little expected to behold the beautiful settle- tire within its wonted limits; the storm was hushed; ment, with its luxuriant groves, its broad pathways, the lowering clouds began to disperse, and the sun, and neat white cottages, one mass of ruins, among as a prisoner, bursting forth from his dark dungeon, which scarcely a house or tree was standing. The poor women were running about with their children, wildly looking for a place of safety; and the men were dragging their little property from beneath the ruins of their prostrate houses. The screams of the former, and the shouts of the latter, together

6

6

smiled upon us from above, and told us that God had not forgotton to be gracious.' We now ventured to creep out of our hiding-places, and were appalled at beholding the fearful desolation that was spread around us. As soon as possible, I sent a messenger to obtain some information respecting my

Singular marriage-ceremony.

poor vessel, expecting that she had been shivered of the natives were levelled to the ground. Our into a thousand pieces; but, to our astonishment, he property was scattered by the winds and waves, returned with the intelligence, that although the among a people who were formerly the most pitterbank, the school-house, and the vessel were all ing of any with whom we were acquainted, and washed away together, the latter had been carried many of whom still retained this propensity. Every over a swamp, and lodged amongst a grove of large particle of food in the island was destroyed. Scarcechestnut-trees, several hundred yards inland, and ly a banana or plantain-tree was left, either on the yet appeared to have sustained no injury whatever! plains, in the valleys, or upon the mountains; hunAs soon as practicable, I went myself, and was truly dreds of thousands of which, on the preceding day, gratified at finding that the report was correct, and covered and adorned the land with their foliage and that the trees had stopped her wild progress, other- fruit. Thousands of stately bread-fruit, together wise she would have been driven several hundred with immense chestnut and other huge trees, that yards farther, and have sunk in a bog. had withstood the storms of ages, were laid prostrate "I was now most anxious to return to Ngatan- on the ground, and thrown upon each other in the giia, being greatly concerned and distressed for Mrs. wildest confusion. Of those that were standing Williams; for, in the height of the storm, I had many were branchless, and all leafless. So great despatched a messenger, to request Mr. Pitman to and so general was the destruction that no spot send us help; but he returned with the dismal escaped; for the gale veered gradually round the tidings that the ravages of the tempest were as de- island, and performed most effectually its devastavastating there às at Avarua. I therefore hastened ting commission. But in this, as in all God's afback, and when about half way, was met by a na-flictive dispensations, mercy was mingled with tive, with a letter from Mrs. Williams, begging me judgement; for had the gale been at its height to return immediately, as she was apprehensive of during the night, or had it lasted much longer, the serious consequences, from the fright she had sus-consequences would have been greatly aggravated." tained. On arriving at Ngatangiia, the scene of desolation was almost as terrifick as that at Avarua. Mr. Pitman's house, although standing, was unroofed and severely shattered, and Mrs. Williams, with "It being rather an unusual thing with natives Mr. and Mrs. Pitman, had taken refuge in a small to have any very pressing engagements to prevent new cottage belonging to Pa, the principal chief, their prompt attention to any object they had in view, which was now almost the only tenantable dwelling we were anxious to learn the cause of the delay; in the whole settlement. I was truly thankful to when we learned that he (the chief) had sent some axfind that Mrs. Williams' fears were not likely to be es, and other things we had given him, and purchased realized; and we fondly entertained a hope, that our a handsome young wife, who had just arrived, and babe would yet be spared to us. It appeared that that the ceremony of marriage was now about to she had had the narrowest possible escape from a commence. A group of women, seated under the horrible death; for shortly after I left, Mrs. Pitman, shade of a noble tree, which stood at a short diswho was sleeping in the next room, perceiving the tance from the house, chanted, in a pleasing and roof of the house writhe under the pressure of the lively air, the heroick deeds of the old chieftain and tempest, urged Mrs. Williams to get up immediate- his ancestors; and opposite to them, beneath the ly; and she had no sooner risen from the bed, than spreading branches of a bread fruit-tree, sat the a violent gust of wind burst in the end of the dwell-newly purchased bride, a tall and beautiful young ing, which fell with a crash upon the very spot on woman, about eighteen years of age. Her dress which she was lying two minutes before. Wrapping was a fine mat, fastened round the waist, reaching themselves in blankets, they rushed out of the fall-nearly to her ankles; while a wreath of leaves and ing house, and stood in an open space, while na- flowers, ingeniously and tastefully entwined, decotives were sent to seek for a hut or cottage, where rated her brow. The upper part of her person was they might find a temporary shelter. One of them anointed with sweet-scented cocoanut oil, and tinged shortly returned, saying, that there was a small partially with a rouge prepared from the turmerickhouse standing belonging to one of Mr. Pitman's root, and round her neck were two rows of large servants. To this they instantly repaired, but be- blue beads. Her whole deportment was pleasingly fore they reached it, a cocoanut-tree had fallen upon modest. While listening to the chanters, and lookit, and severed it in two. They were again obliged ing upon the novel scene before us, our attention to seek safety, by exposing themselves to the fury was attracted by another company of women, who of the raging elements, rather than approach houses were following each other in single file, and chantor trees. At length a messenger came running to ing, as they came, the praises of their chief. Sitinform them that Pa's house was standing, and the ting down with the company who had preceded way to it tolerably free. On their arrival the chief them, they united with one general chorus, which showed them every attention, and had his house appeared to be a recital of the valorous deeds of made as secure as possible with ropes; but here, Malietoa and his progenitors. This ended, a dance also, they were kept in great terrour, by a stately in honour of the marriage was commenced, which cocoanut-tree, which was bowing and bending over was considered one of their grandest exhibitions, their heads. They succeeded, however, in getting and held in high estimation by the people. The a bold and active young man to climb up and cut off performers were four young women, all daughters the branches; whom they rewarded for his temerity. of chiefs of the highest rank, who took their staIn the evening we had time to collect our thoughts, tions at right angles, on the fine mats with which and reflect upon our situation. The chapels, school- the dancing-house was spread for the occasion, and houses, mission-houses, and nearly all the dwellings then interchanged positions with slow and graceful

We

movements both of their hands and feet, while the bride recited some of the mighty doings of her forefathers. To the motions of the dancers, and to the recital of the bride, three or four elderly women were beating time upon the mat with short sticks, and Occasionally joining in chorus with the recitative. We saw nothing in the performance worthy of admiration, except the absence of every thing indeli cate-a rare omission in heathen amusements. were informed that most of the wives of the principal chiefs were purchased; and that if a sufficient price is paid to the relatives, the young woman seldom refuses to go, though the purchaser be ever so old and unlovely. I prayed that, by the blessing of God upon our labours, the day might speedily arrive when these interesting females should be elevated from this terrible degradation, and, by the benign influence of Christianity, be raised to the dignity of companionship with their husbands, and that station in the social and domestick circle which occupy

[Papeiha.]

221

the females of Tahiti, Rarotonga, and other islands, pointed in some instances, yet our most sanguine exhave attained since the introduction of the gospel."

After his return to England the author thus contrasts the condition of the natives as he left them, with that in which he found them.

"I found them without a written language; and left them reading in their own tongue the wonderful works of God." I found them without a knowledge of the Sabbath; and when I left them no manner of work was done during that sacred day. When I found them, in 1823, they were ignorant of the nature of christian worship; and when I left them, in 1834, I am not aware that there was a house in the island where family prayer was not observed every morning, and every evening. I speak not this boastingly; for our satisfaction arises not from receiving such honours, but in casting them at the Saviour's feet; for his arm hath gotten him the victory,' and 'HE SHALL BEAR THE GLORY.'

"What has been said of Rarotonga is equally applicable to the whole Hervey island group; for, with the exception of a few at Mangaia, I believe there does not remain a single idolater, or vestige of idolatry, in any one of the islands. I do not assert, I would not intimate, that all the people are real christions; but I merely state the delightful fact, that the inhabitants of this entire group have, in the short space of ten years, abandoned a dark, debasing, and sanguinary idolatry, with all its horrid rites; and it does appear to me that, if nothing more had been effected, this alone would compensate for all the privations, and labours, and expense by which it has been effected.

"I am happy to add, that a short time since, I received letters from Messrs. Buzacott and Pitman, which inform me that the people are in a still more pleasing state than when I left them. But I will

pectations have been more than realized. All the their zeal, in visiting the sick and endeavouring to members of our churches continue steadfast, and do all the good they can, affords us much pleasure. You will be delighted to hear that Makea, we hope, time past to manifest a deep concern for his eternal is a decided christian. He has continued for a long interests, and gave a most pleasing and satisfactory account of his conversion and religious experience at our last church meeting, when he was regularly admitted to membership.'

himself, has taken and forwarded to me the accom"Mr. Buzacott, with a camera-obscura made by panying likeness of Makea."

allow my brethren to speak for themselves. After From the above extracts it will be perceived that giving me a full account of Papeiha's prosperity, of the volume before us abounds with useful and interwhom he sent the accompanying likeness, Mr. Bu-esting matter. The descriptions of scenery, characzacott writes thus, in reference to his own station ::- ter, and incidents, are unusually well written. The. "I am truly happy to inform you that we are facts regarding the natural history and geography of still in a pleasing state of prosperity. The excite the islands are new and interesting-and in conclument which commenced when you were with us, sion we sincerely recommend the volume to the attenstill continues, and, although we have been disap-tion of all our readers.

222

Hannibal,

THE FAMILY MAGAZINE.

YOUNG MEN OF GENIUS.

lick.

Alexander, of Macedon, extended his power over Greece, conquered Egypt, rebuilt Alexandria, over- of the army against Egypt, scattered the clouds of lutionized Genoa, and formed the Cisalpine Repubrun all Asia, and died at 33 years of age. At the age of 29 he received the command was but 26, when, after the fall of his and Cairo, and wrested the land of the Pharaohs father Hamilcar, and Asdrubal, his successor, was and Ptolemies from the proud descendants of the Mameluke cavalry, mastered Alexandria, Aboukir, chosen commander in chief of the Carthaginian prophet. At the age of 30 he fell among the PaAt 27, he captured Saguntum from the Ro- risians like a thunderbolt, overthrew the directorial Before he was 34, he carried his arms from government; dispersed the council of five hundred, Africa into Italy, conquered Publius Scipio on the and was proclaimed first consul. At the age of 31 banks of the Ticinus, routed Sempronius near the he crossed the Alps with an army and destroyed the Trebia, defeated Flaminius on his approach to the Austrians by a blow at Marengo. At the age of 32 Appenines, laid waste the whole country, defeated he established the Code of Napoleon; in the same Fabius Maximus and Varro, marched into Capua, year he was elected consul for life by the people; and at the age of 36 was thundering at the gates of and at the age of 34 he was crowned emperour of

army. mans.

Rome.

ry

Scipio Africanus, was scarcely 16 when he took an acuve part in the battle of Canæ, and saved the life of his father. chose him for their leader, and he conducted them The wreck of the Roman cavalback to the capitol. Soon after he was 20, he was appointed pro-consul of Spain, where he took New Carthage by storm. sively, Asdrubal, (Hannibal's brother,) Mago, and He soon after defeated succesHano; crossed into Africa, negotiating with Syphax, the Massasyliat king, returned to Spain quelled the insurrection there, drove the Carthaginians wholly from the peninsula, returned to Rome, devised the diversion against the Carthaginians by carrying the war into Africa, was appointed pro-consul of Africa, crossed thither, destroyed the army of Syphax, compelled the return of Hannibal, and defeated Asdrubal a second time.

the French nation.

27 years of age, when, as a member of Parliament
William Pitt, the first earl of Chatham, was but
of Sir Robert Walpole.
he waged the war of a giant against the corruptions
of age

when with masterly power he grappled with the vet-
The younger Pitt was scarcely 20 years
was called to the high and responsible trust of chan-
cellor of the exchequer.
erans of parliament, in favour of America. At 22 he

might on the affairs of the East Indies. At 25 he
It was at that age when he came forth in his
was first lord of the treasury.、

tation of the metaphysical theories of Berkeley and Hume. At 20 he was in the Temple, the admiration Edmund Burke, at the age of 19, planned a refuof its inmates for the brilliancy of his genius and Charlemagne was crowned king of the Franks his celebrated satire, entitled "A vindication of Nabefore he was 24. the variety of his acquisitions. At 26 he published quered Aquitania, and at the age of 29 he made him- Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful-so much adAt the age of 28 he had con- tural Society." The same year he published his self master of the whole German and French em-mired for its spirit of philosophical investigation, and pires. first insanity of George III, he rallied around the Prince of Wales. the elegance of his language. At 29, during the

Charles the XII., of Sweden was declared of age by the States, and succeeded his father at the age of 15. At 18 he headed the expedition against the Danes, whom he checked; and with a fourth of their numbers, he cut to pieces the Russian army, commanded by the Czar Peter, at Narva-crossed the Dwina, gained a victory over the Saxons, and carried his arms into Poland. land and dictated to her a new sovereign. At 24, At 21, he had conquered Pohe had subdued Saxony; at 27 he was conducting his victorious troops into the heart of Russia, when a severe wound prevented his taking command in person and resulted in his overthrow and subsequent treacherous captivity in Turkey.

Lafayette was major-general in the American army at the age of 18;. was but 20 when he was wounded at Brandywine; but 22 when he raised supplies for his army, on his own credit, at Baltimore; and but 23 when raised to the office of commander in chief of the national guards of France.

when he covered the retreat of the British troops at
Braddock's defeat; and the same year was appoint-
George Washington was only 27 years of age
ed commander in chief of all the Virginia forces.

Washington, at the age of 20.
the army of the Revolution, and aid-de-camp to
Alexander Hamilton was a lieutenant-colonel in
ber of Congress from New York; at 30, he was one
of the ablest members of the Convention that formed
the Constitution of the United States.
At 25 he was a men-
was a member of the New York convention and joint
At 32 he was secretary of the treasury of the United
At 31 he
States, and arranged the financial branch of
author of the great work entitled the "Federalist."
ment upon so perfect a plan, that no great improve-
ment has ever been made upon it by his successors.
govern-

30, he was a member of the Virginia Convention;
At the age of 26, Thomas Jefferson was a leading
member of the Colonial Legislature in Virginia. At
the Declaration of Independence.
at 32, a member of Congress; and at 33, he drafted

Napoleon commenced his military career as an officer of artillery, at the age of 17. cessfully commanded the artillery at the siege of At 24, he sucToulon. His splendid and victorious campaign in Italy was performed at the age of 27. During the next year, when he was about 28, he gained battle after battle over the Austrians in Italy, conquered Mantua, carried the war into Austria, ravaged the Tyrol, concluded an advantageous peace, took pos-brated satire upon the English Bards and Scotch session of Milan and the Venetian republick, revo-Reviewers; at 24, the two first Cantos of Childe Lord Byron, at the age of 20, published his cele

miscellaneous poems, including his L'Allegro, Pen-
seroso, Comus, and the most beautiful of his Mono-
Milton, at the age of 20, had written his finest
dies.

Harrold's Pilgrimage, indeed, all the vast poetick | he was in the habit of purchasing his iron. He there treasures of his genius were poured forth in their saw a revolving cylinder with magnetized points, for richest profusion, before he was 34 years old; and the purpose of separating the particles of iron from he died at 37. the pulverized ore. "How is this magnetized," said Mr. D. to the owner. "By Professor Henry's horse shoe magnet, which you see there," was the! reply. It was one of a very small description, Raphael, the illustrious painter, by his incompara- weighed about three pounds, and had been purchasble works, had acquired the appellation of the "Di-ed of Professor Henry himself at Albany. On an vine Raphael" long before he arrived at the age of 36. Pope wrote many of his published poems by the time he was 16 years old, at 20 his Essay on Criticism, at 21 the Rape of the Lock, and at 24 his great work, the translation of the Illiad.

exhibition of its powers, in connection with the galvanic battery, [Hare's] Mr. D. was so struck with this, to him, entirely novel agent, that he immediately demanded the price of the whole apparatus, and purchased the same, and went home absorbed with the useful purposes to, which he immediately conjectured it might be applied, and too much engrossed with this dominant thought to remember the load of iron he had come in pursuit of. It is proper to say, that previous to this Mr. D, had become acquainted with the nature of the permanent magnet in his excursion with that and the compass among the On his return, he

Sir Isaac Newton had mastered the highest elements of the mathematicks, and the analytical method of Descartes before he was 20, had discovered the new method of infinite series of fluxions, and his new theory of light and colours. At 25 he had discovered the principles of the reflecting telescope, the laws of gravitation, and the planetary system. At 30, he occupied the mathematical chair of Cam-iron regions of his native state. bridge.

Nor let us add can even the interesting and well written descriptions in Silliman's Journal, and elsewhere in our newspapers possibly make intelligible the nature of Mr. Davenport's discovery. In fact, the technical language of science requires an entire new glossary to furnish words to express the thoughts which have sprung up in this new world, whose In concurrence unanimously we believe with all door has been burst open by the genius of one of our citizens.