POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
247 
excited in the natives themselves, though formerly the 
blind vrere objects of neglect and ridicule. There is now 
connected with the Missionary station at Bunaauia, or 
Burder’s Point, a blind man, who can repeat correctly 
half the Gospel by John, though it has not long been 
printed. 
When we have been distributing the Scriptures, 
two or three fine boys or girls have come, begging for 
copies, though they could not read; assuring us, they 
were learning; and, when they have failed, they have 
entreated that we would write their names on the books, 
and reserve them till they were able to read. To our 
satisfaction, in this request they have often been joined 
by their parents, who have offered payment for the 
copies. We have usually complied with their wishes, 
and have witnessed the most entire confidence on their 
part, as it regarded the ultimate accomplishment of their 
wishes, when once their names have been written. 
It was necessary to select some public place for the 
distribution of the books; the school-room was fixed 
upon, and, on the day appointed, the place was actually 
thronged until the copies were expended. In their 
application at our own houses, we found it impossible to 
restrain the people; they filled our yards and gardens, 
and thronged every window, sometimes to such a degree, 
that one of the Missionaries, Mr. Bicknell, found it 
necessary to fasten the lower doors and windows of his 
house, and retire to the chamber. The natives then 
procured long bamboo-canes, and, fastening their mea¬ 
sure of oil, the price of the book, to one end, lifted it 
up to the window. Mr. Bicknell was so influenced by 
the ingenuity and determination of the contrivance, that 
he distributed a number of copies, by fixing them in a 
