PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 307 



lives and property, so long as the sacred volume, 

 which could be replaced at any time for a bamboo 

 of oil, was in safety. In general those who were f$]j£ 

 missi-narees had a proper respect for the book, but 

 associating with it the suppression of their amuse- 

 ments, their dances, singing, and music, they read 

 it with much less good will than if a system had 

 been introduced which would have tempered reli- 

 gion with cheerfulness, and have instilled happiness 

 into society. 



The Otaheitans, passionately fond of recreation, 

 require more relaxation than other people ; and 

 though it might not have been possible at once to 

 clear the dances from the immoralities attending;; 

 them, still it would have been good policy to sanc- 

 tion these diversions under certain restrictions, until 

 laws which were more important began to sit easy 

 on the shoulders of the people. Without amuse- 

 ments, and excessively indolent, they now seek en- 

 joyment in idleness and sensuality, and too much pains 

 cannot be bestowed to arouse them from their apa- 

 thy, and to induce them to emerge from their gene- 

 ral state of indifference to those occupations which 

 are most essential to their welfare. Looking only 

 to the past, they at present seem to consider that 

 they can proceed in the same easy manner they 

 have hitherto done ; forgetting that their wants, for- 

 merly gratified by the natural produce of the earth, 

 have lately been supplied by foreign commodities, 

 which, by indulgence, have become essential to their 

 comfort; and that as their wants increase, as in all 

 probability they will, they will find themselves at a 

 loss to meet the expenses of the purchase. They 

 forget also that being dependent upon the casual 



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