202 EFFORTS OF THE MISSIONARIES 



at Wahu in 1 820, bringing with them two young 

 Sandwich Islanders, who had been previously 

 prepared in their schools. The King, hearing of 

 their intention, would not allow them to land, 

 but commanded them immediately to depart 

 from his shores. Here, again, Karemaku in- 

 terposed, and endeavoured to convince the King 

 that the Christian religion would be one of the 

 greatest benefits he could confer on his subjects. 

 The King then assembled the most distinguished 

 Yeris, and after fourteen days' deliberation, de- 

 creed that a piece of land should be granted to 

 the missionaries, with permission to build a 

 church, and to preach their doctrines, under the 

 condition that they should immediately leave 

 the island if the experiment should be found 

 to have a prejudicial influence on the people. 

 The missionaries agreed to the terms, took 

 up their residence on Wahu, and from thence 

 extended settlements over the other islands. 

 Their first efforts were successfully directed to 

 the conversion of the King, his family, and 

 the most distinguished Yeris. When these 

 personages had openly professed the new faith, 

 the Missionaries considered themselves firmly 



