278 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES, 
formerly have been, it has entirely ceased since the people 
have been acquainted with the more certain and efficacious 
application of English medicine. Like the priests in 
their temples formerly, the minister of their religion, 
at every station, is now sought in all cases of sickness, 
as their physician; and no small portion of our time 
was occupied in administering medicine, so far as our 
scanty means would admit. 
This is a task necessarily devolving upon the Missiona¬ 
ries, as the only Europeans residing amongst them, either 
possessing medicine, or knowing how to use it; and it is 
a claim which we never desired to refuse. It is perfectly 
compatible with the higher duties of our station—the cure 
of their spiritual maladies. We have only to regret that we 
have not possessed better qualifications, and more ample 
means for its efficient discharge. So long as our family 
medicine has lasted, we have been ready to share it with 
those who were in need, and have often been thankful 
(when afflicted ourselves, and destitute,) to receive the 
simple remedies they were able to supply. 
The Missionary Society has readily furnished us with 
medical books and instruments; and for our own use, a 
liberal supply of medicines : but it has generally been 
inadequate to the wants of the people. Medicine is ex¬ 
pensive, and perhaps it would not be considered a just 
appropriation of the Society’s funds, to expend them in 
providing medicine for those among whom its agents 
labour; yet it is one of the most affecting sights a 
Missionary can witness, when visiting his people, to be¬ 
hold them enduring the most painful suffering, pining 
under the influence of disease, and perhaps sinking into 
a premature grave, and to know that if he had the means 
within his reach, he could at least relieve them. 
