LANDING AT RIMATARA. 21 



by a low paling of posts driven slightly into the 

 ground, merely to keep out hogs ; while cocoa- 

 nut trees and giant bananas were dropping their 

 fruits all around. The whole scene, in every 

 feature, was most pleasingly corroborative of 

 the representations quoted by Harris in " The 

 Great Commission," to show the temporal 

 utility of missionary exertions in the South 

 Seas. "Instead of their little, contemptible 

 huts along the sea-beach, there will be seen a 

 neat settlement, with a large chapel in the cen- 

 tre, capable of containing one or two thousand 

 people ; a schoolhouse on the one side, and a 

 chiefs or the missionary's house on the other ; 

 and a range of white cottages a mile or two 

 long, peeping at you from under the splendid 

 banana trees or the bread fruit groves. So that 

 their comfort is increased and their character 

 elevated." 



Soon after reaching this little metropolis of 

 the island, the king had baked pig and delicious 

 kalo placed upon a massive rude table, and 

 plates of English crockery, with knives and 

 forks. A blessing was asked by the native 



