SALAILUA,

Samoan Reporter, Issue 3, 1 March 1846, Page 3

SALAILUA,

West of Savaii : Mr. Chisholm's District.

This district so named from the village in which I reside, comprehends at present the Falefa and the Salega districts, and two villages of the Alataua, extending over a distance of about forty miles containing in all twenty one villages with a population of about two thousand five hundred, of this number only about 870 at present avail themselves of our instructions the majority in this district still adheres to certain Tonga teachers.

From the extent of this district and the scattered state of the population it is difficult to visit the people with sufficient frequency. Travellingon foot is the only safe mode and that is soon found to be most exhausting in this climate to the European constitution. On this account our first care ought to be directed to the training up of young men who have embraced the truth that they may be able in due time to teach and preach Christ to their countrymen. There are at present nine individuals in my class, but for the most part they are elderly men and make but little progress: three or four of them however give evidence of possessing considerable ability. May they be kept by the mighty power of God, and made very useful to their perishing fellow sinners. We have at present fifty one church members, of the great majority of whom it can only be said they are but babes in Christ, if indeed the root of the matter be at length found to be in them. Of many I have reasons to stand in doubt, but of a few there is ground to hope that they have indeed passed from death unto life, as there is apparently an absence of that selfish covetous spirit which is so distinguishing a trait in the Samoan character, and such attachment displayed to the word of God and the means of grace, combined with such general consistency of conduct as we expect to meet with in true Christians ; these are they who strengthen our hands and encourage our hearts. We have had several most painful cases of dicipline during the past year, five hopeful characters have been added to the church, numbers profess to be seeking the kingdom of God, but of very few is there reason to hope well. I have been making efforts toimprove the schools and have not been altogether unsuccessful, but still find great difficulty in securing regular attendance, especialy from the fondness of the people for pigeon catching. The average attendance in the adult schools during the year has been about 250, and of children about 180.

The minds of the people have been more than ordinarily unsettled during the past year in consequence of the war which has been threatening in our neighbourhood, but now that the unhappy affair has come to a crisis, we may hope and pray for the dawn of brighter days.

Feb. 28, 1845.

ALEX. CHISHOLM.