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POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
the observance of this hallowed festival, &c. were read, a 
blessing implored, and the bread, which was then broken, 
handed to each individual. The wine was next poured 
into the cup, a blessing again sought, when the wine was 
handed to the communicants. After this, another hymn 
was sung, a short prayer offered, and the service closed. 
I have been thus particular in detailing the order 
observed on this occasion, as affording not only a correct 
statement of our proceedings at this time, but also a 
brief general view of the manner of administering this 
sacred ordinance in the different Missionary stations 
throughout the islands. 
It would be impossible to give any thing like an ade¬ 
quate description of my own emotions, at this truly in¬ 
teresting service. The scene was worth coming from Eng¬ 
land to witness, and I trust the impression was as salutary 
as it was powerful and solemn. I am also quite unable 
to conceive what the feelings of our senior colleague must 
at this time have been. He had been many years among the 
people before any change in favour of Christianity took 
place, and had often beheld them, not only ignorant and 
wretched, sunk to the lowest state of debasing impurity, 
and accustomed to the perpetration of the most horrid 
cruelty, but altogether given to ^idolatry, and often mad 
after their idols. 
Our joy arose, in a great degree, from the delightful 
anticipation awakened in connexion with the admission of 
the anxious multitude, who were waiting to enter into, and 
we hoped, prepared of God to participate in, all the bless¬ 
ings which this ordinance signified, and in reference to 
the eternity we hoped to spend with them, when we 
should join the church triumphant above. His joys, how¬ 
ever, in addition to those arising from these sources, 
