72 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
dwelling, but he now had to collect, with great labour, a 
large pile of firewood, to dig a pit, to dive into the sea 
for coral rock, to burn it, to mix it with sand so as to form 
mortar, wattle the walls and partitions of his house, 
and plaster them with lime. He then had to ascend the 
mountains again, to cut down trees, which he must either 
split or saw into boards for flooring his apartments, 
manufacturing doors, windows, shutters, &c. This was 
certainly a great addition of labour ; and hence many 
occupy their cottages as soon as they have finished the 
roof, the walls, and the door—^levelling the ground for 
the floor, and spreading grass over it—occupying one 
part, while they board or plaster the other. 
In this state we found Navenavehia’s house, when 
we paid him our first visit. We recommended him to 
persevere in completing it, and, in order to encourage 
him, promised him a few nails to make doors, and 
whatever else was wanting. He assured us of his 
intention to board the floor, and partition off their bed¬ 
room ; but said, he thought they might as well live in 
it while he was doing this, and therefore had occupied 
it as soon as the walls were dry. 
The settlements in the Leeward Islands now began to 
assume an entirely new aspect. Multitudes flocked from 
the different districts, to attend the means of instruction 
in the school, and on the Sabbath. The erection of a 
house upon the improved plan, regulating its size by the 
rank or means of the family for whom it was designed, 
became a kind of test of sincerity in professions of 
desire to be instructed; for to embrace Christianity, 
with the precepts which it inculcated, nothing could 
be more at variance than the habits of indolence and 
unsightly filthiness of their former habitations. 
