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POLYNESIAIS RESEARCHES. 
pie listened attentively to the proposition, appeared 
pleased, and said that no more children should be mur¬ 
dered. It was, however, only a promise. 
The distressing circumstances under which this un¬ 
natural and revolting crime was practised, and the awful 
extent to which it prevailed, was one of the first of the 
many horrid cruelties filling these ^^dark places’^ of pagan¬ 
ism, that deeply affected them. More than once having 
received intimation of the murderous purpose of the 
parents, they had, when the period of childbirth drew 
nigh, used all their influence to dissuade them from its 
execution, offering as a reward for this act of common 
humanity, articles highly valued by them. When these 
had failed to move the parents’ hearts, and they could 
obtain no promise from either the father or mother, 
that they would spare the child, the wives of the Mis¬ 
sionaries have, as a last resort, begged that the infant, 
instead of being destroyed, might be committed to 
their care. But the people were so much under the 
slavish influence of cruel custom, that, with one or 
two exceptions, their efforts were unavailing, and the 
guilty murderers have in a few days presented them¬ 
selves at the Missionary dwellings, not only with most 
affecting insensibility, but apparently with all the impu¬ 
dence of guilty exultation. 
The persons and the habitations of the Missionaries 
had hitherto been secure, excepting from petty thefts ; 
they were, however, occasionally alarmed by rumours of 
war. Haamanemane had formerly requested their aid 
in a descent he intended to make upon Raiatea for the 
recovery of his authority there ; but this they had firmly 
declined. The pilfering habits of the people rendered 
it necessary for them to watch their property during the 
