TAHITI. 9 



assemblage, except from the colour of their skins, could have been, 

 with difficulty, distinguished from a Sunday school in the United 

 States. 



The exercises were opened with prayer. The children then sang 

 the ABC song, and went through the a-b ab, at the word of 

 command from Mr. Pritchard. To this succeeded an examination 

 of the larger children, and an exhibition of some of their perform- 

 ances. The number of scholars was from three hundred and fifty 

 to four hundred, between eight and sixteen years of age. A large 

 proportion of them read, sang, and wrote on a slate, manifesting a 

 fair proficiency in each, and answered intelligently the questions that 

 Avere put to them. 



To test the character of the instruction given in this school, I 

 felt desirous of putting some questions on subjects foreign to the 

 ordinary routine, and particidarly in relation to natural phenomena. 

 For this pmrpose I called the attention of the scholars to the eclipse 

 of the sun which had happened a few days before. This was 

 received with a variety of expression of countenance by different 

 scholars, but among them I could only remark stupid wonder, 

 indifference, or listlessness, which showed too clearly that no attempt 

 had been made to awaken their attention to such subjects. 



When the examination was concluded, I made a trifling present to 

 the native teachers in the name of the American government, and 

 desired Mr. Pritchard to express the satisfaction it had given myself 

 and officers to witness the exhibition of a progress, which in the 

 elementary branches of education had exceeded our expectations; 

 and to state that I was assured it would be gratifying to our country 

 to hear of their improvement. I concluded by expressing my hope 

 that they would persevere in their attention to the missionaries, who 

 were so zealously endeavouring to instruct them in knowledge and 

 religion. 



This short address was immediately answered by Paofai, a chief 

 who holds the office of chief judge, and who is generally considered 

 as the ablest and most clear-headed man in the nation. His reply 

 was delivered in an earnest and animated manner, and contained 

 many expressions of gratitude for the attention and kindness shown 

 them by the people of the United States. 



The exhibition of the schools did not surprise me so much as the 

 fact that few natives are to be met with who cannot both read and 

 write. This was not confined to the younger part of the population, 



