214 MR. bengham's discourse. 



in driving crafty bargains, and certainly are no 

 way instrumental in inspiring the islanders with 

 ideas of religion or morality, but on the con- 

 trary, set them examples which have a direct 

 tendency to deprave their minds. Such among 

 these crews as have been guilty of offences on 

 board ship, frequently run away and settle 

 on the islands. This was severely prohibited 

 in Tameamea's time, but is now permitted, from 

 Christian charity. Such characters as these, 

 reckless of every thing sacred, do not hesitate 

 to make a jest of the missionaries, whose ex- 

 traordinary plans and regulations offer many 

 weak points to the shafts of ridicule. 



When Mr. Bengham had concluded a dis- 

 course in the O Wahi language, which might 

 possibly have been highly edifying, but that it 

 was addressed to little else than empty benches, 

 — for I did not understand him, and the minds of 

 the few other persons present were evidently oc- 

 cupied with very different matters, — we return- 

 ed to the palace in the same style that we had 

 left it. I then took my leave, having received 

 a promise of being amply supplied with provi- 

 sions : the Queen also, at my request, ordered 



