TAHITI. 13 



rate, does not stalk abroad in the open day, as it did in some places 

 we had lately visited upon the American continent. It would be unfair 

 to judge of these natives, before they had received instruction, by our 

 rules of propriety ; and now many of those who bear testimony to the 

 laxity of their morals, visit their shores for the very purpose of enticing 

 them into guilt, and of rioting without fear or hindrance in debauchery. 

 Coming with such intentions, and finding themselves checked by the 

 influence of the missionaries, they rail against them because they have 

 put an end to the obscene dances and games of the natives, and pro- 

 cured the enactment of laws forbidding illicit intercourse. 



The missionaries are far from overrating their own success in 

 effecting an improvement in morals, and inculcating the obligations of 

 religion. So* far from this, I found that they generally complained that 

 sincere piety was rarely to be found among the natives. However 

 this may be, the external signs of moral and religious improvement 

 are conspicuous. Many of the natives are scrupulous in their attention 

 to Christian duties, and members in communion .of the church. All 

 are strict observers of the Sabbath ; indeed, nowhere is its institution 

 more religiously attended to than in those Polynesian islands which 

 are under missionary influence. On that day no canoe is launched 

 upon the waters, and no person is seen abroad except while on his 

 way to or return from church. When thus seen, they are neatly and 

 decently clothed, although in very bad taste. At church they form a 

 respectable-looking congregation, and listen with attention to the 

 preacher. 



The success of the missionaries in introducing this strict observance 

 of a Sabbath is ascribed by themselves in a great degree to its analogy 

 to the taboo-days of heathen times, and the continuance of its sanctity 

 is now insured by the penalties which await an infraction of it. The 

 punishment for Sabbath-breaking consists in the offender being com- 

 pelled to make a certain number of fathoms of road, and upon a 

 repetition of the offence, the number of fathoms is much increased. 



I cannot pass without notice the untiring efforts of many of the 

 foreign residents to disparage the missionaries and vilify the natives. 

 They endeavour on all occasions to prepossess the minds of visiters 

 against both. These efforts, however, generally fail of success ; for 

 no reflecting mind can fail to perceive how devoid they are of any 

 foundation, nor avoid noticing the baneful effects these residents are 

 themselves producing, by inculcating principles for which many of 

 them have been compelled to fly their own countries, or teaching the 

 practice of crimes from whose penalty they have made their escape. 



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