8 TAHITI. 



On Sunday, 15th September, as many of the officers and crews 

 as could be spared from the vessels attended divine service in the 

 Mission church. Our chaplain performed the service, with the aid 

 of the Rev. Mr. Pratt. This exercise attracted great crowds of the 

 natives, of whom an unusual number had collected at Matavai. 

 They flock, on the arrival of vessels, and particularly of ships of war, 

 to the port in which they lie, partly from curiosity, and a desire of 

 amusement, but more from a hope of gain. A Tahitian changes his 

 residence without difficulty or inconvenience ; food is every where to 

 be had in abundance, and lodgings never enter into his calculation. 

 While the squadron was at Matavai Bay, the number of those who 

 appeared to inhabit its shores would have given a very erroneous 

 estimate of the usual population. They were assembled from every 

 part of the island, and the right of occupying each spare nook in the 

 houses of the permanent settlers, seems to be universally admitted. 

 When this resource fails, they are to be seen beneath trees, or upon 

 the beach, within a few feet of the water's edge, sleeping as soundly, 

 although without any covering, as if they were beneath their own 

 roofs. 



This people exhibits great curiosity, but does not manifest it by 

 intrusive inquisitiveness. In our whole intercourse with them, we 

 did not hear of a single act of theft, although there were innumerable 

 opportunities for its commission, without the possibility of immediate 

 detection. They seemed always in a good humour, gay, happy, and 

 cheerful; nor did I witness a single quarrel among all the crowds 

 that were assembled at Point Venus, during our stay. They are, 

 however, inveterate beggars. 



At the invitation of Mr. Pritchard, I visited the school under his 

 direction at Papieti. This gentleman was, a few years since, a 

 missionary, but now holds the station of Her Britannic Majesty's 

 Consul. He has not, however, abandoned all his missionary duties. 

 We were also invited to visit the school at Matavai Bay, under the 

 direction of the Rev. Mr. Wilson. There was so much similarity in 

 the two schools, that I shall content myself with a description of the 

 former, and a circumstance or two that occurred at the latter. 



The school at Papieti is held in the church, a large frame building, 

 much like a New England meeting-house. It has numerous win- 

 dows, a large gallery, and pews capable of containing a great number 

 of people. All who were present were well dressed, and the 



