140 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
the earlier periods of the Mission was often the case, no 
fire was lighted on the Sabbath 5 their food was invariably 
dressed on the preceding day, and the warmth of the 
climate prevented their requiring fire for any other pur¬ 
pose. In this proceeding they were influenced by a 
desire that their domestics, and every member of their 
families, might have an opportunity of attending public 
worship. 
The example, thus furnished by their teachers, has led 
to the strict and general observance of the Sabbath by 
the nation at large. Their private devotions are on this, 
as ■well as other mornings, usually concluded by sunrise, 
and shortly afterwards, the greater part of the inhabit¬ 
ants assemble for their Sabbath morning prayer-meeting. 
Besides a service in English, the Missionaries preach 
twice in the native language, and visit the Sabbath 
schools; these services are as many as they are able to 
undertake: the service at the morning prayer-meeting 
is therefore performed by the natives. We have, how¬ 
ever, sometimes attended, and always with satisfaction. 
It is impossible to conceive of the emotions of delight 
produced by witnessing six or eight hundred natives 
assembling at this hour in the respective chapels; and, 
on entering, to see a native, one who was perhaps 
formerly a warrior or Areoi, or even an idolatrous priest, 
stand up, and read a psalm or hymn, which the con¬ 
gregation rise, and sing. A portion of the scriptures, 
in the native language, is then read; and the thanks¬ 
givings and petitions of the assembly are offered to 
Almighty God, with a degree of fervour, propriety, 
appropriate use of scripture language, and chastened 
devotional feeling, that is truly astonishing, when it is 
considered that but a few years before, they were igno- 
