46 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
have prompted them to have grasped the child in her 
nurse’s lap or arms^ and to have leaped with her into 
the sea before we could have been aware of their design. 
Had this been the case, it is impossible to say what 
the result would have been; bloodshed might have 
followed, and we might have been obliged to depart from 
the island, leaving our child in their hands. From the 
crude food with which they would have fed her, it is pro¬ 
bable she would have died; but, from my subsequent 
acquaintance with the natives of the South Sea Islands, I 
do not think that during her infancy they would have 
ti-eated her unkindly. As it was, we felt grateful for the 
kind Providence which had secured us from all the dis¬ 
tressing circumstances which must necessarily have at¬ 
tended such an event. 
These brief facts will be sufficient to shew somewhat 
of the character of the natives of Rapa, in 1791 and 1817» 
They continued in this state until v/ithin the last two or 
three years, during which a considerable change has taken 
place. 
Towards the close of the summer of 1825, a cutter 
belonging to Tati, a chief in Tahiti, when on a voyage 
to the Paumotus, or pearl islands, visited Rapa, and 
brought two of its inhabitants to Tahiti. On their first 
arrival they were under evident feelings of apprehension; 
but the kindness of Mr. Davies the Missionary, and the 
natives of Papara, removed their suspicions, and inspired 
them with confidence. They were both delighted and 
astonished in viewing the strange objects presented to 
their notice. The European families, the houses, the gar¬ 
dens, the cattle, and other animals, which they saw at 
Tahiti, filled them with wonder. They also attended the 
schools and places of public worship, and learned the 
