^134 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES, 
unwilling to be deprived of the assistance of their 
seniors^ in the acquisition of the language, Mr. Wil¬ 
liams and Mr. Threlkeld felt it to be their duty to 
accompany Tamatoa, and the chiefs who were with him, 
to the island of Raiatea. They purposed to attempt 
their civilization, the establishment of schools, and, with 
the assistance of pious and intelligent natives, their 
instruction in the use of letters, and the first principles 
of religion; while they were cultivating such an ac¬ 
quaintance with the language as would enable them 
more fully to unfold the great objects of their Mis¬ 
sion. They represented distinctly the disadvantages 
under which they should commence public instruction, 
from their very partial knowledge of the language; 
but the chiefs always replied, Never mind that, you 
possess enough now to teach us more than we know, 
and we will make it our business to teach you our lan¬ 
guage.^'’ The visitors from Raiatea were supported in 
their application by a number of chiefs belonging to the 
same island; who, after residing some years in Eimeo, 
had now removed to Huahine, and were desirous of 
returning to their own possessions in Raiatea and 
Tahaa, yet did not wish to go unaccompanied by some 
of those, from whose instruction they had derived so 
much advantage. 
It was always a matter of regret with the Missionaries, 
that the expenses of the establishment in the islands 
should be sustained altogether by the parent Society ; 
and in order to diminish this, they had from time to 
time disposed of the fruits of their own industry, to 
the captains of vessels touching at Tahiti; or they 
had sent small quantities to New South Wales, receiv¬ 
ing, in return, such articles as they were most in need 
