502 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
dren would have been in existence, and states his 
opinion, that they would not, and that the hands 
of their mothers would have been imbrued in their 
blood.'' This was not groundless opinion, hut an 
inference authorized by the most melancholy hut 
unquestionable facts. At a former meeting held on 
the spot where the chapel stood, in which the chil¬ 
dren were examined, he was present. A venerable 
chief rose, and addressed the assembly, with impres¬ 
sive action, and strongly excited feeling. Comparing 
the past with the present state of the people, he 
said, was a mighty chiefs the spot on which 
we are now assembled was by me made sacred for 
myself and family 5 large was my family, but I alone 
remain 5 all have died in the service of Satan—they 
knew not this good word which I am spared to 
see; my heart is longing for them, and often says 
within me. Oh! that they had not died so soon; 
great are my crimes; I am the father of nineteen 
children; all of them I have murdered —^now my 
heart longs for them.—Had they been spared, they 
would have been men and women—learning and 
knowing the word of the true God. But while I 
was thus destroying them, no one, not even my own 
cousin, (pointing to Tamatoa the king, who pre¬ 
sided at the meeting,) stayed my hand, or said. 
Spare them. No one said. The good word, the true 
word is coming,' spare your children ; and now my 
heart is repenting—is weeping for them \'* 
