THE YOUTH'S MAGAZINE. JANUARY, 1841. AIMEO, OR EIMEO. THIS is one of the Society Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, more commonly called by the natives Morea. It lies a little west of Tahiti or Otaheite. It was formerly independent; but having been subjected by the late king, it afforded a seasonable refuge to his son, when expelled from his proper dominions. It is said to be ten miles or more in length from N. to S., and about half as much in breadth. It has a very narrow border of low land along its coast, from which the hills rise in steep acclivities, except on the N., where a capacious harbour, called Talu, is sheltered from the prevailing winds, and the land has a gradual ascent to the interior. This harbour is situated in lat. 17 deg. 30m. S., and lon. 150 deg. W. In form Eimeo varies greatly from Tahiti, having spacious valleys, and several land locked harbours on its coast. The lower hills are fertile; but the air is thought less salubrious than that of the greater island. Several missionaries of the L. M. S. having been driven from Tahiti, commenced an establishment on this island at Papetoai, in 1811. Pomare showed them much kindness; and, in the summer of the following year, he gladdened their hearts by declaring his entire conviction of the truth of the gospel, his determination to worship Jehovah as the only living and true God, and his desire to make a public profession of his faith by baptism; but notwithstanding many pleasing appearances, they deemed it prudent to defer this ordinance until he should be more fully instructed in the truths of revelation. During the years 1813 and 1814 an abundant blessing was poured out on this station, so that the missionaries could report that no less than fifty of the natives had renounced their idols, and desired to be considered as the worshippers of the Most High. At the commencement of the year 1815, the congrega. tion was considerably increased by an influx of strangers from other islands, whose earnest desire to receive religious instruction prompted them from time to time to visit this place. The congregation, in general, consisted of about 300, and the number of persons who had requested their names to be written down as professed worshippers of the true God was increased to upward of 200; the pu pils in the schools, of whom the major part were adults, were about 260. Of those who had desired their names to be inscribed as worshippers of Jehovah, four individuals (one man and three women) died very happy about this time. The priest of Papetoai (the district in which the brethren resided) also embraced Christianity, renounced idolatry, and publicly committed his god to the flames. His example was speedily followed by many of the natives; and not only were the former objects of superstitious worship cast into the fire, but the morais and altars were destroyed; and even the wood of which they were composed was used to dress common food, of which dif ferent classes, and both sexes, partook indiscriminately, in direct violation of ancient customs and prohibitions. The brethren at Eimeo having heard that the attention of some of the people in Tahiti [formerly called Otaheite] had been drawn to the subject of religion, some of them went over to ascertain the truth of this report. Upon their arrival, they found that a prayer meeting had been established in the district of Pare, without the knowledge of any of the missionaries. It originated entirely with two of their former servants, named Oitu and Tuaheine, who had enjoyed the means of religious instruction long before, but remained, according to their own language, among the " greatest and most hardened sinners in the place." Oitu, having felt strong convictions of guilt, in consequence of some expressions which had fallen from the king, applied to Tuaheine for instruction, knowing that he had long lived with the missionaries. This was a means of deepening his convictions. Both these men now agreed to separate from their heathen companions, to converse and pray together. This conduct speedily brought upon them the scoffs and derision of their idolatrous acquaintance; nevertheless, several of the young people joined them. These formed the prayer meeting above mentioned; and they had frequently assembled, amidst much contempt, prior to the visit of the missionaries. Two of the brethren, after having made a tour of the larger peninsula of Tahiti, for the purpose of preaching to the people, returned to Eimeo, and brought over with them Oitu and Tuaheine, and their companions, that they might be more thoroughly instructed in the knowledge of Christianity. In this island the gospel had now been embraced by about 1,200 persons; and in every district a place had been built for Christian worship, in which the people held prayer meetings three times every sabbath day, and once every Wednesday. Almost every house had family worship daily, and most of the people retired for private devotion twice and sometimes three times a day. On the 13th of May, 1818, a general mecting was convened, in imitation of the meetings held in London, when about 2,000 of the natives assembled and agreed to form a Tahitian A. M. S., to aid the parent society in England 25* 3 |