260 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
This, Mr. Davies did,—beginning with Mahine, the prin¬ 
cipal hereditary chieftain of the island. Having receiv¬ 
ed his reply, Mr. Davies immersed his hand in a vessel 
of water, which Mr. Barlf or myself held by his side, and 
then holding his hand over the crown or forehead of the 
chief, while the water from his hand flowed or fell 
upon Mahine’s head, Mr. Davies pronounced aloud, with 
distinctness and solemnity, Mahine e tapape du van ia 
oe i te ioa o te Medua, eo te Tamaidi, eo te Varua maitai : 
“ Mahine, I apply water to you in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.Repeating the 
same words, and applying the water in the same manner, 
to every individual, he proceeded to baptize the whole 
number, who kept their seats during the ceremony. 
Mahine was not baptized first, because he was the king 
of the island, but because he was one of the earliest 
converts, and had been most diligent in his attention, 
and consistent in deportment. We were careful to avoid 
giving any preference to rank and station, simply as 
such; and, on the present occasion, we beheld Hautia, the 
governor of the island, and others of high rank, sitting 
by the side of the humble peasants of the land. In 
reference to civil or political station, we always incul¬ 
cated the requirements of the gospel, that all should 
render honour to whom honour is due, invariably pre¬ 
senting a suitable example of the most respectful be¬ 
haviour to individuals of distinguished rank or station. 
But in the church of God, and in the participation 
of the privileges of Christianity, we as invariably 
taught that all were brethren, that there was no prece¬ 
dence derived from worldly station, that one only was 
our lord and king, the Saviour himself. This principle 
we were happy to see recognized by themselves on this 
