Protcstaniism preferred hy the Natives. 217 



case made of plaited palm fibre, a modern department of 

 Tabitian mdustry, and, in tbe interior more especially, 

 observe tbe Sabbatb witb miicb strictness.* It may be 

 reckoned tliat by far tbe larger number of tbe inbabilants of 

 Tabiti and Eimeo, or Morea, profess Protestantism, wbereas 

 tbe number of native Catbolics does not exceed 100 in botb 

 islands. Notwitbstanding tbe numerous advantages wbicb 

 tbe Catbolic Cburcb bas enjoyed since tbe establisbment of 

 tbe French Protectorate, it bas not succeeded in Requiring 

 any great influence among tbe natives, or in enlarging its 

 boundaries. Tbe Bisbop, Monseigneur Tepaud Jansen, 

 Bisbop of Axieri, wbo resides at Papeete, is also tbe sole 

 priest and teacber in tbe colony. Tbis spiritual guide bas 

 every day to celebrate mass in bis wretcbed little cbapel of 

 bamboo walls and palm tbatcb, and bas never yet succeeded 

 in getting tbe balf-ruined cburcb close by finished for bis re- 

 ception ; tbe 8000 francs per annum (£320) paid by Govern- 

 ment as long as tbe cburcb is being built seem ratber to post- 

 pone tban hasten its erection. Moreover, there is not as yet any 

 public school in Pa]3eete, a want which is the more sensibly 

 felt and the more permanent in its effects, as tbe majority of 

 the Protestant schools are closed, and consequently a large 

 proportion of tbe rising generation f are growing up in utter 



* At one service which we attended in Mr. Howe's chapel there were fifty " com- 

 municants " present ; a pupil of the missionary played the organ. The Queen, too, 

 and her family, who are strongly attached to the services of the Evangelical Church, 

 are frequently present at these Sunday gatherings. 



t Several of the girls who live in Mr. Howe^s family are Catholics, whose parents 

 prefer they should be educated in a Protestant school rather tban not at all. 



