INCOMPETENCY OF THE MISSIONARIES. 203 
another 'Tahaitian, when tne whole ceremony 
commenced anew; another Psalm, another 
chapter, and another prayer were sung and 
said; again and again, as I understood, a fresh 
performer repeated the wearisome exercise ; but 
my patience was exhausted, and, at the second 
course, with depressed spirits and painful im- 
pressions, I left the assembly. 
Several such meetings are established in dif- 
ferent parts of the island, but no schools of a 
different character. The children are taught 
a little reading and writing in their parents’ 
houses, and beyond. this, knowledge is mis- 
chievous. It is true, that most of the Mis- 
sionaries are incapable of communicating fur- 
ther instruction; but the opinion that it is 
easier to govern an ignorant than a well-edu. 
cated community, seems here, as elsewhere, to 
form a fundamental principle of policy. 
To pray and to obey are the only commands 
laid upon an oppressed people, who submis- 
sively bow to the yoke, and even suffer them- 
selves to be driven to prayers by the cudgel ! 
A police-officer is especially appointed to en- 
force the prescribed attendance upon the church 
