loS MORALITY OF THE TAHITIANS. [chap. xvin. 



present state with that of the island only twenty years ago ; 

 nor even with that of Europe at this day ; but they compare 

 it with the high standard of Gospel perfection. They expect 

 the missionaries to effect that which the Apostles themselves 

 failed to do. In as much as the condition of the people 

 falls short of this high standard, blame is attached to the 

 missionary, instead of credit for that which he has effected. 

 They forget, or will not remember, that human sacrifices, 

 and the power of an idolatrous priesthood — a system of 

 profligacy unparalleled in any other part of the world — 

 infanticide a consequence of that system — bloody wars, 

 where the conquerors spared neither women nor children 

 — that all these have been abolished ; and that dishonesty, 

 intemperance, and licentiousness have been greatly reduced 

 by the introduction of Christianity. In a voyager to forget 

 these things is base ingratitude ; for should he chance to 

 be at the point of shipwreck on some unknown coast, he 

 will most devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary 

 may have extended thus far. 



In point of morality, the virtue of the women, it has been 

 often said, is most open to exception. But before they are 

 blamed too severely, it will be well distinctly to call to 

 mind the scenes described by Captain Cook and Mr. 

 Banks, in which the grandmothers and mothers of the 

 present race played a part. Those who are most severe 

 should consider how much of the morality of the women in 

 Europe is owing to the system early impressed by mothers 

 on their daughters, and how much in each individual case 

 to the precepts of religion. But it is useless to argue 

 against such reasoners ; — I believe that, disappointed in 

 not finding the field of licentiousness quite so open as 

 formerly, they will not give credit to a morality which 

 they do not wish to practise, or to a religion which they 

 undervalue, if not despise. 



Sunday, November 2.2nd. — The harbour of Papiete, where 

 the qui^-en resides, may be considered as the capital of the 

 island; it is also the seat of government, and the chief 

 resort of shipping. Captain Fitz Roy took a party there 

 this day to hear divine service, first in the Tahitian 

 l.inguage, and afterwards in our own. Mr. Pritchard, 

 the leading missionary in the island, performed the 

 service. The chapel consisted of a large airy framework 

 of wood ; and it was filled to excess by tidy, clean people, 

 of all ages and both sexes. I was rather disappointed 



