962 PUBLIC PRAYER MEETING. 
ments of science. Being informed that the 
lessons commenced at sunrise, the first rays of 
that luminary found me one morning at the 
school-house, as I conceived the simple struc- 
ture before me to be. Its walls were formed 
of bamboo canes, erected singly, at sufficient 
distances to admit the refreshing breeze from 
all sides, and supporting a good roof. The 
interior was one spacious quadrangular apart- 
ment, provided with benches, and raised seats 
for the teachers. 
I had not waited long before the pupils of 
both sexes entered. They were not lively chil- 
dren, nor youths, whom ardour for the acquisi- 
tion of knowledge led to the seat of instruction, 
but adults and aged persons, who crept slowly 
in with downcast looks, and prayer-books under 
their arms. When they were all assembled and 
seated on the benches, a Psalm was sung; a 
Yahaitian then rose, placed himself on an ele- 
vated bench, and read a chapter from the Bible. 
After this they sang again, and then knelt with 
their backs to the reader, who, also kneeling, 
repeated with closed eyes a long prayer. At 
its conclusion, the orator resigned his place to 
