ISLAND OF TAHITI. 77 



remain unglazed, as free circulation of air is here desirable at 

 all times. The interior is well supplied with benches, ar- 

 ranged in rows, so as to face the pulpit at the side. There is 

 no steeple to it. 



Near bj the chapel is the residence of the Rev. Mr. Wil- 

 son, the only survivor of the missionaries who first came to the 

 island. Notwithstanding his great age, he continues to enjoy 

 good health, and to watch over the spiritual welfare of his 

 flock, which I understand is large. 



It is worthy of remark, that although the day has been 

 Sunday with us, it has been Monday with the people a-shore, 

 a circumstance to be attributed to the first missionaries (who 

 arrived here by the way of the Cape of Good Hope) not having 

 made a proper allowance for the gain of time. 



September 20th. This morning the " Vincennes " got 

 under-way, and ran up to Papeite. The females here have 

 certainly a very great passion for singing. Every evening 

 they assemble in great numbers down by the water-side, and 

 sing away for hours. Last night it was 2 A. M. 3 ere they 

 ceased. This would be a great annoyance to us were their 

 voices unmusical, but they are not. More soft, rich and clear 

 voices we have never heard in any part of the world. Besides, 

 they do not confine themselves to their national songs, but 

 occasionally, as if they wished that we should share with them 

 in their innocent amusement, strike up some one of our own 

 which they have learned from the whalers, and which seemed 

 to be as familiar to them as to any of us. 



Papiete, September 24th. We arrived here a little after 

 meridian. When about two miles from the anchorage of Ma- 

 tavai, we passed two white-plastered buildings, shaded with a 

 variety of trees, one of them, we were informed by the pilot, 

 was the house of the queen; the other, the building in 



