POLYNESTAN RESEARCHES. 
279 
The occurrences are not unfrequent, wherein an an¬ 
xious parent brings a poor sickly child to his house, with 
which she is obliged to return unrelieved, not because 
the disease is remediless, but because the Missionary has 
not, it may be, a cheap and simple remedy to bestow. 
The natives would cheerfully purchase so valuable an 
article as medicine, but they have no means of doing so, 
by bartering in the islands the produce of their labour. 
If they send it to England, the return is distant and un¬ 
certain 5 and mistakes, embarrassing to them, are likely 
to occur. It is to be hoped, however, that as the means 
of intercommunication become more frequent and regular, 
these difficulties will be removed. Several generous 
individuals have laid the people of some of the islands 
under great obligations, of which they are duly sensible, 
by sending them out, gratuitously, a liberal supply of the 
most useful medicines. 
It may not be necessary for a Missionary in a civilized 
nation, where the healing art is cultivated, or going to a 
country where European colonies are settled, or commer¬ 
cial establishments are formed, to be acquainted with the 
practice of physic. It is, however, important, and ought 
to be borne in mind by those who are looking forward 
to Missionary work, and by those who patronize them, 
that it would be of the highest advantage for one going 
to an uncivilized people, to be acquainted with the quali¬ 
ties and use of medicine. 
A degree of proficiency that would qualify him to prac¬ 
tise in his native country, is not necessary. But so much 
knowledge as would enable him to be exceedingly ser¬ 
viceable to the people, to win their confidence and affec¬ 
tion, and to confer on him an influence the most important 
and advantageous, in accomplishing the great objects of 
