Nov. 1835. 



TAHITI. 



493 



from that of Kotzebue^ which is strongly adverse to the 

 whole missionary system. He who compares these three 

 accounts, will;, I think, form a tolerably accurate conception 

 of the present state of Tahiti. One of my impressions, 

 which I took from the two last authorities, was decidedly 

 incorrect ; viz., that the Tahitians had become a gloomy race, 

 and lived in fear of the missionaries. Of the latter feeling I 

 saw no trace, unless, indeed, fear and respect be confounded 

 under one name. Instead of discontent being a common 

 feeling, it would be difficult in Europe to pick out of a crowd 

 half so many merry and happy faces. The prohibition of 

 the flute and dancing is inveighed against as wrong and 

 foolish ; — the more than presbyterian manner of keeping the 

 sabbath, is looked at in a similar light. On these points I 

 will not pretend to offer any opinion in opposition to men 

 who have resided as many years as I was days on the island. 



On the whole it appears to me, that the morality and 

 religion of the inhabitants is highly creditable. There are 

 many who attack, even more acrimoniously than Kotzebue, 

 both the missionaries, their system, and the effects produced 

 by it. Such reasoners never compare the present state with 

 that of the island only twenty years ago ; nor even with that 

 of Europe at this day ; but they compare it with the high 

 standard of Gospel perfection. They expect the missionaries 

 to effect that, which the Apostles themselves failed to do. 

 In as much as the condition of the people falls short of this 

 high order, blame is attached to the missionary, instead of 

 credit for that which he has effected. They forget, or will not 

 remember, that human sacrifices, and the power of an idola- 

 trous priesthood — a system of profligacy unparalleled in the 

 world, and infanticide a consequence on that system — bloody 

 wars, where the conquerors spared neither women nor chil- 

 dren — that all these have been abolished ; and that dis- 

 honesty, intemperance, and licentiousness 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 



