500 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
were accustomed to proceed from the school to the 
chapel, to a rising ground in the vicinity of the 
governor’s house. Here an entertainment had been 
provided for them by the chiefs. We followed, 
amid the multitude of their parents and friends; 
and, on reaching the place of the assemblage, beheld 
a most delightful scene. About three hundred boys 
sat in classes on the grass on the right-hand side 
of the rising ground, each teacher presiding at the 
head of his class. On the left-hand, about two hun¬ 
dred girls were arranged in the same manner. A 
plentiful repast had been prepared, which was carved, 
and handed to them as they sat upon the green 
turf. In the centre, tables were spread for the 
chiefs, and the parents and friends of the children: 
we sat down with them, gratified with their hos¬ 
pitality, but deriving far more pleasure from gazing on 
the spectacle on either side, than in partaking of the 
provision. Before the assembly departed, I gave a 
short address to the parents, teachers, and children. 
When I concluded, they all stood up; the boys 
formed a circle on one side, and the girls on the 
other, and sang alternately the verses of a hymn 
in the native language; after which, one of the 
teachers offered a short prayer,—and we retired, under 
the influence of those emotions of satisfaction which 
appeared to pervade the bosom of every individual; 
and it was not easy to say whether it was most 
powerfully exhibited in the countenances of the chil¬ 
dren or their parents. 
Towards the evening of the day, the children 
walked two and two, hand in hand, from one end of 
the settlement to the other, preceded by the flag 
