POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
455 
required something beyond the inculcation of the prin¬ 
ciples of Christianity^ and instruction in the use of 
letters. They justly inferred^ that, unless habits of 
regular industry were introduced, and civilization pro¬ 
moted, the people, if they did not absolutely return 
to all the absurdities, superstition, and cruelty of pagan¬ 
ism, would develop but partially the genius and spirit 
of Christianity, and exercise very imperfectly its 
practical virtues. The state of feeling, also, that pre¬ 
vailed among the inhabitants at this time, predisposed 
them readily to attend to any recommendations of the 
kind I and the great deference they now paid to the 
counsel of their teachers, presented an opportunity more 
favourable than had ever occurred before, or was likely 
to occur again. 
Influenced by these considerations, the Directors sent 
to the South Sea Islands Mr. Gyles, a gentleman who 
had been many years manager of a plantation in 
Jamaica, and who, being well acquainted with the 
culture of the cane and the manufacture of sugar, 
was furnished by the Missionary Society with the 
necessary machinery and apparatus for introducing 
this branch of industry. Mr. Gyles was engaged for four 
years, during which time it was supposed he would 
be able, not only to commence his operations, but to 
proceed so as to convince the king and chiefs what 
might be done, and also to improve the natives in the 
art of cultivating cane, instruct them in the process of 
boiling, &c., and leave them capable of carrying it on 
by themselves. He reached Tahiti in August, 1818, 
and shortly afterwards removed to Eimeo, where he 
began to erect the machinery, and enclosed a con¬ 
siderable tract of ground in the fertile and extensive 
