406 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
number of tbe books should not be sufficient for those 
who were waiting; and have more than once told us, that 
the fear of being disappointed has often deprived them 
of sleep. 
Many were doubtless influenced by motives of 
curiosity, others by a desire to possess an article of pro¬ 
perty now so highly esteemed by all parties, but many 
were certainly influenced by a desire to become more 
fully acquainted with the revelation God had made to 
man, and to read for themselves, in their own language, 
those truths that were able to make them wise unto 
salvation.^’ By some, after the first emotion of curiosity 
had subsided, the books were probably neglected; but 
by most they were carefully and regularly read, becom¬ 
ing at once the constant companion of their possessors, 
and the source of their highest enjoyment. 
When the Gospel of Luke was finished, an edition of 
Hymns in the native language was printed, partly origi¬ 
nal and partly translations from our most approved Eng¬ 
lish compositions; and although the book was but small, 
it was acceptable to the people, who are exceedingly 
fond of metrical compositions, their history and tradi¬ 
tions having been preserved in a metrical kind of bal¬ 
lad. This circumstance rendered the Hymn-book which 
was completed at Huahine, quite a favourite, and af¬ 
forded the means, not only of assisting them in the 
matter of their praises to Almighty God, but enabled 
them to convey the most important truths of revelation 
in the manner most attractive and familiar to the native 
mind. 
While engaged in these labours, the principal object 
besides, that occupied our attention, was the study of 
the language. Several hours every day were devoted 
