POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
259 
morning to a numerous congregation^ who thronged the 
chapel. Mr. Davies^ being the senior Missionary at the 
station, officiated, assisted by Mr. Barff and myself. 
The climate in the South Sea Islands is remarkably fine, 
the weather warm, the streams abundant, and the waters 
clear as crystal; and, had we been disposed to perform 
the service in the open air, under the shade of a spread¬ 
ing grove, we had every facility for so doing. The con¬ 
verts might have been led into the river, and, standing on 
the bank or in the stream ourselves, we might have applied 
its waters to their persons, using the words prescribed. 
On such occasions, the most delightful scenes of which 
it is possible for imagination to conceive, would have 
been presented; scenes similar perhaps to those often 
witnessed by the disciples in the days of the apostles; 
and for the sake of effect, and the associations they 
would have av/akened, I have sometimes for a moment 
wished we had. But the wish has only been momen¬ 
tary, for whatever might have been the impression of 
such a scene, or the emotions enkindled, they would not 
have been attended with any valuable practical result. 
On the present, therefore, and every subsequent occasion, 
the rite was administered before the whole congregation, 
in the place of worship. 
During the ordinary morning worship, the approved 
candidates sat in front of the pulpit. At its close, they 
kept their places, and, after imploring the divine bless¬ 
ing upon the service, we proceeded to its perform¬ 
ance. Their profession of faith in Christ, and desire 
to be instructed in his word, had been received at a 
preceding meeting; and it was only necessary now, 
after a short address to the whole, to ask the name of 
each adult, and the parents the names of their children. 
