POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
539 
Altnough Pomare II. was the first pupil whom tlie 
Missionaries taught to write^ and although he excelled 
all others 3 his example induced many to make an 
attempt^ while his success encouraged them to pro¬ 
ceed ; and now it is probable that as great a proportion 
of the population of the Georgian and Society Islands 
can write, as would be found capable of doing so in 
many portions of the United Kingdom. Some progress 
had been made, by several of the most intelligent of the 
converts, before the abolition of idolatry in 1815, but it is 
only since that period that writing has become general. 
Various methods of instruction have been adopted: 
some of the natives have been taught altogether by writ¬ 
ing on the sea-beach, or on sand in the schools ; others 
have learned to write on the broad smooth leaves of the 
plantain-tree, using a rather bluntly pointed stick, 
instead of a pen or pencil. The delicate fibres of the 
leaf being bruised by the pen, become brown, while the 
other parts remain fresh and green. If it was necessary 
to read it immediately after being written, when held 
up to the light, the letters were easily distinguished. 
These plantain-leaf letters answer very well for short 
notes to pass among the natives themselves, but are 
liable to injury if conveyed to any great distance, or kept 
any length of time. They are always rolled up like a 
sheet of parchment, and have a remarkably rustic ap¬ 
pearance, being usually fastened with a piece of bark, 
tied round the roll, the length of which being formed by 
the breadth of the leaf, is about twelve or fifteen inches. 
I have often seen the chief’s messenger hastening along 
the road with two or three plantain-leaf rolls under his 
arm, or in his hand, which were the despatches of which 
he was the bearer. 
