TAHITI. 31 



of whom were women, all dressed in the usual loose calico gown, with 

 large straw bonnets, and barefooted. 



In spite of the devotion manifested within the church, the conduct 

 of the women after the service was concluded, left room for believing 

 that their former licentiousness was not entirely overcome by the 

 influence of their new religion. 



When the service was over, nearly the whole congregation col- 

 lected, attracted by the sight of so large a number of white strangers. 

 According to their own account, the party, in their tattered and soiled 

 garments, was not in a condition to produce a very favourable 

 impression on these Polynesians. Still, it appeared from an address 

 made by their preacher, that he thought that in spite of their forlorn 

 condition, they possessed many things which the natives were likely 

 to covet, for he exhorted his flock to depart, telling them that some of 

 the strangers' articles might be missing, and " then there would be 

 trouble." 



Here was witnessed a gorgeous sunset; — the clouds to the west 

 being lighted up as it were with burnished gold, while to the east, the 

 rain-clouds overhanging the mountains, exhibited a triple rainbow, 

 w r hich at that hour was of course a complete semicircle. 



In the morning they set out early, and walked to Papara, over the 

 " Broom Road." This is about twelve feet in width, and is well made, 

 being raised above the level of the ground, and having ditches on each 

 side. Over the streams which cross its direction, are bridges of loose 

 planks. 



Previous to reaching Papara, they came to a large mound on a 

 point of land near the sea-shore. This is the same that is described by 

 Cook. The steps of which he speaks are now almost obliterated, being 

 entire only at one of the corners, and there is little appearance of the 

 stones having been squared. It is now about forty feet high ; the space 

 on the top is about twenty feet wide ; the base is one hundred and forty 

 by fifty feet ; and it is almost entirely overgrown with bushes. 



An account of the object of this structure w T as given by the old chief 

 of Panawea. As he is one of the most intelligent chiefs, and his state- 

 ment differs in some particulars from that given by Cook, I think proper 

 to insert it. This chief stated that it had not been used as a place of 

 sepulture or as a morai, but was a sort of temple or high place on 

 which the image of one of their gods had stood ; that formerly many 

 such mounds had existed upon the island, but that whenever war broke 

 out between two districts, each was desirous to obtain possession of 

 the other's tehee or idol, for the loss of it was an acknowledgment that 



