170 INDOLENCE OF THE NATIVES. 
that these pious people were themselves 
shocked at the consequences of their zeal; but 
they soon consoled themselves; and have ever 
since continued to watch with the most vigi- 
lant severity over the maintenance of every 
article of their faith. Hence, among the re- 
mains of these murdered people, their for- 
mer admirable industry, and their joyous 
buoyancy of spirits, have been changed for con- 
tinual praying, and meditating upon things 
which the teachers understand as little as 
the taught. 
The Tahaitians of the present day hardly 
know how to plait their mats, make their 
paper stuffs, or cultivate a few roots. They 
content themselves with the bread-fruit, which 
the soil yields spontaneously in quantities more 
than sufficient for their reduced population. 
Their navy, which excited the astonishment of 
Europeans, has entirely disappeared. They 
build no vessels but a few little paltry canoes, 
with which they fish off the neighbouring 
coral islands, and make their longest voyages 
in American and European boats which they 
have purchased. With the method of pro- 
