398 TAHITI. [CHAP. xvm. 



introduction of Christianity. In a voyager to forget these things is 

 base ingratitude ; for should he chance to be at the point of ship- 

 wreck on souio 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. Bat before they are blamed too 

 severely, it will be well distinctly to call to mind the scenes de- 

 scribed by Captain Cook and Mr. Banks, in which the grand- 

 mothers and mothers of the present race played a part. Those 

 Avho 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, fflnd. The harbour of Papiete, where the queen 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 

 Hoy took a party there this day to hear divine service, first in the 

 Tahitian language, 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 in the apparent degree of attention; 

 but I believe my expectations were raised too high. At all events 

 the appearance was quite equal to that in a country church in Eng- 

 land. The singing of the hymns was decidedly very pleasing ; but 

 the language from the pulpit, although fluently delivered, did not 

 sound well : a constant repetition of words, like " tata ta, mata 

 mai" rendered it monotonous. After English service, a party 

 returned on foot to Matavai. It was a pleasant walk, sometimes 

 along the sea-beach and sometimes under the shade of the mauy 

 beautiful trees. 



About two years ago, a small vessel under English colours was 

 plundered by some of the inhabitants of the Low Islands, which 

 were then under the dominion of the Queen of Tahiti. It was 

 believed that the perpetrators were instigated to this act by some 

 indiscreet laws issued by her majesty. The British government 



