POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
]85 
recorded^ it may still be affirmed in the language of the 
deputation sent by the Society to the South Seas, that 
^^God has indeed done great things here/^ 
It is much to be regretted^ that the Missionaries 
on the spot—who were intimately acquainted with every 
indication of the moral and spiritual process that 
was going on^ even in its incipient stages^ and every 
event which marked its gradual development^ until^ in 
the language of the natives on another but similar 
occasion, it burst upon them like the light of the morn¬ 
ing—did not, at the time, prepare a full and particular 
account of the work which, under God, they had been 
instrumental in effecting: but their motto always was, 
to say too little rather than too much,^^ to persevere 
in labour, rather than employ their time in detailing 
their engagements ; and to exercise the greatest caution 
and brevity in speaking of any thing connected with 
themselves, or the people around them, lest subsequent 
events should disappoint the anticipations which present 
favourable appearances might originate. This pru¬ 
dential reserve, on some accounts, cannot be too highly 
commended; yet, it is possible to carry it too far; 
and, in the present instance, however honourable to 
the individuals who maintained it, it cannot be 
doubted that the world has been thereby deprived of 
a full record of events, intimately connected with the 
destinies of the people among whom they transpired, 
and with the propagation of the gospel in the most 
distant parts of the world, during every future age 
of the Christian church. 
Before proceeding to narrate the leading matters 
connected with our residence in Afareaitu, some 
account of that change may, perhaps, be neither impro- 
2 B 
