120 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
the views, and confirm the belief, of those who 
were desirous to be added to their number. These 
sacred exercises were enlivened by the natives, who 
united with their teachers in celebrating the praises 
of Jehovah, a number of the natives having been 
taught to sing hymns that had been composed in 
the native language. The Missionaries had often, 
with mingled feelings of horror and pity, heard 
their songs of licentiousness or of war, as well as 
the cantiilations of their heathen worship, and their 
songs in honour of their idols; and it is scarcely 
possible to form an adequate idea of the delightful 
transport with which, at first, they must have heard 
the high praises of the Almighty preferred by native 
voices. 
Upaparu, a principal chief in the eastern part of 
Tahiti, came over to Eimeofor the express purpose 
of seeking Christian instruction, and attending the 
assemblies for public worship. He was accom¬ 
panied by his wife, Maihota, and twelve of his 
people, equally anxious with himself, to know more 
respecting these important matters. On the 15th 
of April they reached the Missionary station. The 
following day was the Sabbath. They attended 
public worship in the forenoon ; and when they saw 
the congregation stand up, and heard them sing 
the praises of Jehovah in their native tongue, they 
were for some time mute with astonishment, and 
some of them so deeply affected, as to be unable to 
refrain from tears. An excellent discourse was 
afterwards delivered by Mr. Scott, to which they list¬ 
ened with mingled feelings of wonder and delight. 
A variety of events occurred at this time, to 
confirm the attachment of those who had pro¬ 
fessed themselves favourable to Christianity, and 
to induce those who were undecided to join 
