1835.] CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. 397 



From the varying accounts which I had read before reaching 

 these islands, I was very anxious to form, from my own observation, 

 a judgment of their moral state, although such judgment would 

 necessarily be very imperfect. First impressions at all times very 

 much depend ou one's previously acquired ideas. My notions 

 were drawn from Ellis's " Polynesian Eesearches " an admirable 

 and most interesting work, but naturally looking at everything 

 under a favourable point of view ; from Beechey's Voyage ; and 

 from that of Kotzebue, which is strongly adverse to the whole 

 missionary system. He who compares these three accounts will, 

 I think, form a tolerably accurate conception of the 'present state 

 of Tahiti. One of my impressions, which I took from the two last 

 authorities, was decidedly incorrect ; viz., that the Tahitians had 

 become a gloomy race, and lived in fear of the missionaries. Of 

 the latter feeling I saw no trace, unless, indeed, fear and respect 

 be confounded under one name. Instead of discontent being 

 a common feeling, it would be difficult in Europe to pick out 

 of a crowd half so many merry and happy faces. The prohibition 

 of the flute and dancing is inveighed against as wrong and foolish ; 

 the more than presbyterian manner of keeping the sabbath is 

 looked at in a similar light. On these points I will not pretend 

 to oft'er any opinion, in opposition to men who have resided as 

 many years as I was days on the island. 



On the whole, it appears to me that the morality and religion 

 of the inhabitants are highly creditable. There are many who 

 attack, even more acrimoniously than Kotzebue, both the mis- 

 sionaries, their system, and the effects produced by it. Such 

 reasoners never compare the 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 



