INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY. 159 
descriptions of the early travellers, had intro- 
duced reflections which became less and less 
agreeable, in proportion as I acquired a greater 
insight into the recent history of the island. 
After many fruitless efforts, some English 
Missionaries succeeded at length, in the year 
1797, in introducing what they called Christi- 
anity into Tahaiti, and even in gaining over to 
their doctrine the King Tajo, who then govern- 
ed the whole island in peace and tranquillity. 
This conversion was a spark thrown into a 
powder magazine, and was followed by a fearful 
explosion. ‘The Marais were suddenly destroy- 
ed by order of the King—every memorial of the 
former worship defaced—the new religion for- 
cibly established, and whoever would not adopt 
it, put to death. With the zeal for making 
proselytes, the rage of tigers took possession of 
a people once so gentle. Streams of blood 
flowed—whole races were exterminated; many 
resolutely met the death they preferred to the 
renunciation of their ancient faith. Some few 
escaped by flight to the recesses of the lofty 
mountains, where they still live in seclusion, 
faithful to the gods of their ancestors. Schil- 
