Dejyressmg Effect of the French Rule. 2 1 5 



tlie Expedition under deep obligations by the cordiality with 

 wliich he placed himself at the disposal of the naturalists, to 

 accompany them on their various excursions, and imparting 

 to them his own valuable experience, while the splendid and 

 comprehensive work of Dr. G. Cuzent* upon Tahiti, contri- 

 buted greatly to assist our personal impressions, experiences, 

 and observations. Mr. Howe, the sole English missionary 

 now resident in Tahiti, received us with much kindness, and 

 escorted us through the various missionary buildings, in 

 which, unfortunately, the spiritual energy of bygone years has 

 dwindled away under the baleful French Protectorate. The 

 institute for the education of teachers and pastors is quite 

 closed, — in the printing establishment, which formerly kept 

 ten compositors and two iron hand-presses in constant em- 

 ployment, only small religious tracts are now permitted to be 

 sold, and these exclusively in Tahitian, a work which one 

 man can easily get through. In the missionary library we 

 saw several interesting works and manuscripts, mostly of a 

 religious cast. One was shown us which seemed to be 

 highly esteemed, and consisted of a thick manuscript treat- 

 ing of Tahiti, the author of which was a Mr. Orsmond, the 

 oldest Protestant missionary upon the island, who died in 

 1857. It is said that M. Moerenhout, the former Belgian and 

 American consul at Papeete, in his work upon Tahiti, availed 



* " Tditi [Tahiti), par G. Cuzenf, Pharmacien de la Marine, 8fC. Src Fan's, 

 Librairie de Victor Masson, 1861." It is a most valuable book, the result for the most 

 part of personal examination and illustration, and arranged with much care and 

 method. 



