112 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
went through the settlement^, holding it up by the string 
with one hand, and striking it with a stone which he 
held in the other. When I last saw the boy going his 
accustomed rounds, I perceived that, in consequence 
of frequent and continued use, the side he struck had 
actually become concave, while the opposite one exhi¬ 
bited a corresponding convexity. 
But the most rude and simple expedient I ever beheld 
was at Raivavai, or High Island, where every implement 
of iron was as precious and as scarce as bells or clocks 
were at the other stations. At Raiatea, a sun-dial was 
erected, by which the natives, when the sun shone, were 
informed of the proper time for ringing their bell: at the 
other stations they usually applied to the Missionaries, 
by whose watches the meetings were regulated, but 
here they had neither dial nor watch: they therefore 
regulated their time of assembling in the school or the 
chapel by the situation of the sun. At the appointed 
time, the person whose office it was to call them toge¬ 
ther, went to the green spreading tree, from one of 
whose lower branches their rude unpolished bell was 
suspended. It was a rough flattish oval-shaped stone, 
about three feet long, and twelve or eighteen inches 
wide. A piece of rugged twisted bark was tied across 
it, and fastened to the tree. A number of small round 
stones lay underneath, with which, when it was necessary 
to call the people together, the large one was struck; I 
could not imagine its use, until, in answer to my in¬ 
quiry, the native teacher said, It is the bell with which 
we call the people to prayers.’’ It appeared metallic 
to a great degree, as the sound produced by striking 
it was considerable; but not, I should think, such as 
could be heard at a distance. These circumstances 
