ATTENTION TO THE MISSIONARIES. 117 
Atua is a designation in no respect dishonourable 
to those to whom it was applied, and of which they 
have never been ashamed, though considered as an 
epithet of contempt or opprobrium, and applied in 
a manner similar to that in which the term Saint 
or Methodist is used in the present day, or the 
designation of Nazarene or Christian was given to 
the first disciples. Since the profession of Chris¬ 
tianity has become general, it has been much 
less used than formerly. Haapii parau,. learners, 
or brethren, friends, and disciples, are the terms 
most frequently employed by the converts them¬ 
selves. 
On the 16th of January, 1814, Idia, the king’s 
mother, died. Like her husband, she had been 
uniformly friendly to the Missionaries, but con¬ 
tinued to the last an enemy to the Christian 
faith. Two months afterwards Mr. Nott, accom¬ 
panied by Mr. Hayward, visited Huahine, Raiatea, 
and Tahaa, the principal of the Society Islands, 
conversing with the inhabitants, travelling round 
the islands, and preaching to the people wherever 
it was convenient. In every place they were 
welcomed and entertained with hospitality. The 
inhabitants frequently assembled to hear their in¬ 
structions, as soon as they knew of their arrival in 
a district or village; whereas, on every former 
occasion, it had required much time and labour, by 
personal application, to assemble the smallest con¬ 
gregations. Many appeared to listen with earnest¬ 
ness and satisfaction to the message they delivered, 
called God, the good Spirit, and scrupled not to 
designate their own gods as varua maamaa , and 
varua ino , foolish spirits, and evil spirits. 
In the autumn of the same year, Mr. Wilson 
went on board a vessel at Eimeo, which was driven 
