the church. Here the attendance may be avoided, but "you shall build one of stone." What, it will be asked, is this amount of labour? To cut a block of compact coral limestone from the reef, about three feet long, two wide, and one deep, at low water, and transport it to the shore—say half a mile.
The houses of the foreign residents are considerably improved; shops are more numerous and well supplied, and several of them are kept by Chinese.
The chiefs and upper classes are better clothed, and appear as if they were accustomed to dress properly. Of course the grog shops, bowling ground, billiard rooms, &c., have increased in proportion.
The port, however, is less frequented by whalers, in consequence of their stubbornness in maintaining a ridiculously high port charge. Atooi, where the port dues are evaded, is rapidly seducing the old hands from this port, which, indeed, they do not enter but to refit. I endeavoured to point out this mistake to the king, but his reply was, that the port was in the hands of Kinau—or, in other words, ruled by the missionaries.
If the king and chiefs continue their present course, this island will never improve, but for the benefit of the foreign residents.
The Benin groupe, I am told, is rapidly improving in settlers and importance. It is encouraged, I believe, by our Consul here. If any legal authority existed there, I have little doubt but half the trade
