438 CHARLES DARWIN 



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 re- 

 ligion. But it is useless to argue against such reasoners; I 

 believe that, disappointed in not finding the field of licen- 

 tiousness 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, 22nd. 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 Roy 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 ex- 

 pectations were raised too high. At all events the appear- 

 ance was quite equal to that in a country church in England. 

 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 serv- 

 ice, a party returned on foot to Matavai. It was a pleasant 

 walk, sometimes along the sea-beach and sometimes under 

 the shade of the many beautiful trees. 



About two years ago, a small vessel under English colours 

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



