POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
39 
gather their efforts^ and has recently so painfully dis¬ 
turbed those of their brethren in connexion with the 
Church Missionary Society. 
The labours of the mechanic and the artisan are 
valuable accompaniments to those of the Missionary ; 
but Christianity must precede civilization. Little hope 
is to be entertained of their following to any extent the 
useful arts^ cultivating habits of industry^ or realiz¬ 
ing the enjoyments of social and domestic life^ until 
they are brought under the influence of those principles 
inculcated in the word of God. And notwithstanding 
the discouragements to be encountered^ this happy 
result should be steadily and confidently anticipated by 
those engaged on the spoL as well as by their friends 
at home. Their prospect of success is daily becoming 
more encouraging. They have not yet laboured in hope^ 
so long as their predecessors did in the South Sea Islands ; 
where nearly fifteen years elapsed before they knew of one 
true convert. The recollection of this circumstance is 
adapted to inspire those employed in New Zealand with 
courage^ and stimulate to perseverance^ as there is every 
reason to conclude^ that when the New Zealanders shall 
by the blessing of God become a Christian people^ they 
will assume and maintain no secondary rank among the 
nations of the Pacific. 
On the twenty-eighth of December^ 1816^ we sailed from 
the Bay of Islands^ and proceeded in an easterly direc¬ 
tion^ with favourable winds^ until the 26th of January, 
when, at daybreak, we discovered an island which we 
afterwards found to be Rapa, though usually designated 
Oparo. The first account of this island is given by 
Vancouver, who discovered it in his passage from 
New Zealand to Tahiti, on the 22d of December, 
