| 884 of the human family I had ever seen. I had heard so much of their iniquity, I wanted to see how they looked; to me they looked guilty indeed! The fourth, by the name of More, is a hot headed fellow against the Mormons; he got so enraged the day before, he fairly danced about it. Howe at length turned to me and very sanctimoniously remarked, I understand you have come among these Islands in the capacity of a preacher. I answered in the affirmative; and what do you preach? The sacred truths of the Bible, I replied. Said he I suppose you are aware that so many years ago the London Missionary Society established a mission here at a very vast expense; the whole stress was on the vast expense; the cost of translating the bible, &c. Well said I, and now are you opposed to having the bible preached after you have accomplished the translation? He said no; he had understood I had another book I preached from. I told him it was a mistake, and went on to tell him what it was; a long dialogue ensued in which they all questioned me on the fundamental principles of the gospel, and they had to drop several points they introduced for fear of trapping themselves; at length they told me they found no fault with me as far as the bible was concerned, but the Book of Mormon they had read, and said it was a bad book. I told them to show me some specimens of bad doctrine in it; they turned to the place where it says, "Adam fell that man might be," they flounced greatly that; I soon succeeded in proving it was not contrary to bible doctrine. Well, they said they could find a worse place then that; so they turned to where it says, "Adam had to know misery before he knew happiness.' This they spouted upon me in a great rage.-I referred them to the temptations of the Savior, his sufferings that he might be perfected; what, said they, do you suppose all the angels in heaven, knew sin before they knew happiness? as for all of them I could not say, but if the bible is true we know some of them did; for John tells of one he saw who would not let him worship him because he was of his fellow servants the prophets. They did not know what to make of me; but I suppose they thought I was a dry bone to pick a dinner off any how.
I then began to question them about their belief in the bible, and the coming of the Son of God the second time: contrasted this with the dispensation of Noah, told them the world was now being warned, and the consequences that would ensue, if men did not give heed.-I then raised my right hand towards heaven and called on, all the heavenly hosts to witness the testimony I bore; that I knew Br. Joseph Smith to be a good man and a prophet of the Lord: and I roared on them like a lion-I believe my eyes flashed, for I felt as if I could swallow them all at one mouthful. The spirit of the Lord rested upon me; it threw them into confusion, they knew not what to say. They finally told me as long as I preached the truth they would pray that I might be upheld, but if I preached error they should pray it might fall to the ground. Then I said, our prayers will be united.
I let them have a Book of Mormon, a Voice of Warning, and O. Pratt's pamphlet on finding the plates. I told them I was happy to see them manifest a better spirit; and reminded them how they had abused me and my cause the day before. This they attempted to deny but I was able to prove it. They said Brother Joseph was in jail for adultery. Br. Hill knew too many of their tricks to be fooled; he replied, if imprisonment was the penalty for adultery here, there are not many of you who would be at liberty to-day to my certain knowledge. They did not deny it, but one said there were many things they had cause to regret.
We separated-they shook me by the hand with the cordiality of old friends. The natives felt hurt for me when they saw them at first refuse to shake hands with me. King Tommatooah told me not to lay it to heart, for they were going home to England, and would not return; and now is our time to supply them with missionaries.
The natives took my part, and defended the cause with great boldness when I was not present. Br. Hill I have adopted in Br. Hanks, stead: he is one of the honorable men of the earth-intelligent and kind. I have great reason to esteem him:-my American brethren are all extremely kind and willing to divide to the last with me.
The native family with whom I live are much attached to me; where I go, they go, and where I stay, they stay; they consider all they have is mine.
The woman was once married to a Boston ship carpenter; he died, and this native man is her second husband; they are good people:-while she lived with her first husband, she learned to make and mend shirts, wash, starch and iron. She is naturally ingenious, They all talk much of coming to America, and often ask where is the ship to go in? It is a spiritual feast to me to meet them in prayer meetings, and hear them pray for Br. Joseph and the church, and with all simplicity thank the Lord for sending me among them.
When the brethren get their vessel done,
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