496 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
manner to each individually, and then uniting with 
them in prayer to the Most High. I cannot imagine 
a more cheering and affecting scene, than must often 
have been presented, when a native Sabbath-school 
teacher has seated herself on the grass, under the 
shade of a spreading tree, or by the side of a 
winding stream, and has there gathered her little 
class around her, for the purpose of unfolding, and 
impressing on their tender minds, the pure and 
sacred precepts of inspired truth 5 or has, under these 
circumstances, engaged with them in prayer to that 
God, who is not confined to temples made with 
hands, and who regards the sincerity of those who 
call upon him, rather than the circumstances under 
which their petitions are offered. Their delightful 
labours in this department of instruction have not 
been in vain. Several children and young persons, 
who have died, have left behind them the most consoling 
and satisfactory evidence, that they had departed to 
be with Christ; and others have been at an early 
age admitted members of the Christian church. 
The annual examinations of these schools are among 
the most exhilarating and interesting festivities now 
observed in the islands. They are usually held, in 
the chapel of the station, in order to afford accom¬ 
modation to a greater number of persons than could 
gain admittance to the schools. Sometimes the adults 
are examined as well as the children, but, in general, 
only the latter. Their parents attend, to witness the pro¬ 
cedure, with great satisfaction. An entertainment and 
a procession usually terminate the exercises of the day. 
One of these anniversaries, held at Burder’s Point, 
the 'Missionary station, the district of Atehuru, in 
