106 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
attend. Forty natives came at the time appointed ; 
the design of the meeting was explained by Mr. 
Nott. It was, to urge those who were decided, 
and wished to become sincere disciples of Jesus 
Christ, to make their desires known—that the 
Missionaries might pay them special attention, and 
give them suitable instructions: they listened 
attentively, and many appeared deeply affected. 
They were afterwards individually interrogated as 
to their desires in reference to these important mat¬ 
ters : during this inquiry thirty-one declared that 
they had renounced the idols, their worship, and 
every practice connected with idolatry; wishing to 
abandon every thing contrary to the word of God. 
These thirty-one requested to have their names 
written down, as those who desired to worship God, 
and to become disciples of Christ. Others said 
they intended to cast away their idols, but did not 
wish to have their names written down at that 
time. All who felt inclined to come were invited, 
but none were urged. The names of these thirty- 
one were written down; and among the first of 
them, Oito and Tuahine’s were to be seen. In 
writing down the names of those who thus publicly 
professed Christianity, the Missionaries were in¬ 
fluenced by a desire, not only to instruct them 
more fully, but to become personally acquainted 
with them, and to exercise over them a guardian 
care, which they could not do without knowing 
their names, places of abode, &c. To their num¬ 
ber, eleven more were soon added ; and with these 
they afterwards held frequent meetings, for the 
purpose of informing their minds, and encouraging 
them to faithfulness in their attachment to the 
Redeemer. Among the last number was Taaroa- 
rii, the young chief of Huahine and Sir Charles 
