POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 12 / 
the Missionaries were enabled to persevere in their 
labours^ although they were cheerless^ and apparently 
useless. Great attention had^ during the last year^ been 
paid to the instruction of the children in the short 
catechism, in which the first principles of Christianity 
were familiarly exhibited to the minds of the young 
people. Mr. Davies, in particular, had devoted much of 
his time to this work; and although it had hitherto been 
found impracticable to teach the children letters, a 
number had committed the catechism to memory. The 
gospel was preached, not only in the immediate neigh¬ 
bourhood of Matavai, but in every district in Taliiti 
and Eimeo; but the people seemed more than ever 
disposed to neglect or ridicule the message. Some¬ 
times they said. We will hear our own gods; at other 
times they scoffingly asked the Missionaries, if the 
people of Matavai had attended to their word| if the 
king, or any of his family, had cast away Oro; declaring, 
that when the king and chiefs heard the word of Jehovah, 
then they would also. 
Early in January, 1805, the Missionaries prepared a 
larger catechism; and, on the 6th of March, they adopted 
their Tahitian alphabet. In forming this, the Roman 
characters were preferred ; sounds in the Tahitian 
language attached to them, and a native name affixed to 
each, for the purpose of facilitating the introduction 
of letters among the people. It was, however, a long 
time before any, among the native inhabitants of Tahiti, 
could be induced to learn the letters of the alphabet. 
The Missionaries continued their labours in preaching 
to the people, and teaching the catechism to the children. 
One or two vessels arrived, but brought no letters or 
supplies; and, towards the close of the year, they expe- 
