POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
495 
books enable them to proceed. The schools are 
important appendages of every Missionary station^ 
and are considered such by the most intelligent and 
influential of the people. 
As it respects the spiritual improvement of the rising 
generation, the understanding of the Scriptures, and 
the extension of genuine Christianity, Sabbath-schools 
are the most interesting and encouraging sections of 
this department. The scholars are the same as in 
the day-schools, but the mode of instruction pur¬ 
sued is different. Writing, reading, and spelling are 
not taught, but the time is devoted to the religious 
instruction of the children. Each class is under the 
care of a native instructor, and we have in several of 
the stations been highly favoured in the co-operation 
of most valuable Sabbath-school teachers. In Huahine 
we found some most able assistants among them, 
especially the teachers in the girls’ school. They 
were not satisfied with attending during the hours 
of school, and merely imparting the ordinary instruc¬ 
tion, or hearing the usual recitals, but identified 
themselves with the advancement of the children, 
and exercised an affectionate care over them during 
the intervals between the Sabbaths. 
By this means they gained the confidence and 
love of many of their pupils, and were resorted 
to for guidance and counsel in every engagement 
of importance, or season of difficulty. Frequently 
one of these teachers, in order to greater quietude, 
and more unreserved converse with the children, 
would take her little class to some retired spot 
ill one of the valleys behind the settlement, for 
the purpose of talking in the most affectionate 
