494 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
soft, without being weak; and they usually perform 
parts appropriated to the female voice better than 
the men do theirs. 
Translations of the most approved psalms and hymns, 
with a number that are original, have been pre¬ 
pared in the native language, in almost every variety 
of metre. To these the most popular English tunes 
are affixed; and with most of those sung by ordi¬ 
nary congregations in England, the natives are ac¬ 
quainted. Mr. Davies, I believe, first taught them to 
sing, and a tune usually called George’s’’ was the 
first they learned. On our arrival in the islands in 
1817^ it was in general use; and whenever we 
walked among the habitations of the people, some 
parts of it broke upon the ear. It is now, however, 
very seldom heard. The Old Hundredth Psalm,” 
Denmark,” Sicilian Mariners,” and others of a more 
moderate date, are among their greatest favourites. 
The Bible has been the basis of the greater part 
of the instruction given in the schools, but not to 
the exclusion of other departments of knowledge. 
In addition to the various portions of Scripture, and 
numerous tracts that have been printed, a system of 
arithmetic has been prepared by Mr. Davies, and a 
table of chronology, which is extensively used; and, 
so soon as the entire volume of Scripture shall be 
completed, other useful works will be translated. 
Although a work on geography has not yet been 
printed, many of the natives have a tolerably cor¬ 
rect idea of the extent, population, and relative 
positions of the most important countries of the world. 
They are certainly fond of calculations, and make 
themselves familiar with figures, so far as their 
