POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 33/ 
to the Sandwich Islands. They were^ however, exceed¬ 
ingly distressing, especially the first, which preyed so 
constantly upon the mind of the individual, that, though 
fully convinced of his fault, and the propriety of the pro¬ 
ceeding,' he hever recovered the shock he received. It 
was exceedingly painful to those, who could no longer, 
without dishonouring the Christian name, allow him to 
be identified'^with them, to separate him. He soon 
offered every evidence of deep and sincere penitence, and 
was affectionately invited to 'return to the bosom of the 
church: but although he came again among them, a 
cloud ever after hung over him; and a disease, aggravated 
by mental anxiety, now attacked his frame, and soon 
brought him to the grave. ’ ' 
Christian churches were formed upon the same or 
similar principles in the Windward or Georgian Islands, 
some months before this was established in Huahine. 
From the peculiar local circumstances of the people, the 
churches in Tahiti have been exposed to greater trials 
than that in Huahine has yet experienced, especially 
those formed in stations adjacent to the anchorage of 
shipping. In the vicinity of these, the baneful influence of 
foreign seamen is most destructive of moral improvement 
and Christian propriety in the people; and it is proba¬ 
ble that there is more immorality among the inhabitants, 
and more disorder in the churches, at the stations which 
are the resort of shipping, than in all others throughout 
the islands. Still the churches there have not been, and 
are not, without some indication of the Divine care and 
blessing. 
Subsequently, churches were formed in Raiatea, Tahaa, 
and Borabora, which have in general prospered. As their 
constitution and proceedings resemble those of Huahine, 
ii. 2 X 
