174 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
acquainted with his good word, made acquainted w r ith the 
deception of the false gods, with all that is evil and false. 
The true God Jehovah, it was he that made us acquainted 
with these things. It was you that taught us ; but the 
words, the knowledge, was from Jehovah. It is because 
of this that I rejoice, and I pray to Jehovah, that he may 
increase my abhorrence of every evil way. The Three- 
One, He it is that can make the love of sin to cease ; we 
cannot effect it; it is the work of God to cause evil things 
to be cast off, and the love of them to cease. 
I am going a journey around Tahiti, to acquaint the 
Raatiras with the word of God, and to cause them to be 
vigilant about good things. The word of God does grow 
in Tahiti, and the Raatiras are diligent about setting up 
houses for worship, they are also diligent in seeking in¬ 
struction, and now it is well with Tahiti. 
That principal idol, that has the red feathers of the 
Otuu, is Temeharo, that is his name, look you; you may 
know it by the red feathers; that was Vairaaioa’s own 
god, and those feathers were from the ship of Lieutenant 
Watts ;* it was Vairaatoa that set them himself about the 
idol. If you think proper, you may burn them all in the 
fire; or, if you like, send them to your country, for the 
inspection of the people of Europe, that they may satisfy 
their curiosity, and know Tahiti’s foolish gods! 
This also is one thing that I want to inquire of you : 
when I go round Tahiti: it may be that the Raatiras and 
others will ask me to put down their names; what shall 
I do then? Will it be proper to write down their names ? 
It is with you—you are our teachers, and you are to direct 
us. We have had our prayer-meeting the beginning of 
this month, February; it was at Homai-au-Vahi; the 
Raatiras, and all the people of the district assembled, 
leaving their houses without people. They said to me, 
‘ Write down our names/ I answered, ‘ It is agreed.’ 
Those names are in the enclosed paper, which I have sent 
for your inspection. Have I done wrong in this ? Per¬ 
haps I have: let me, my friends, know the whole of your 
mind in respect of this matter. 
May my friends be saved by Jehovah the true God ! 
I have written to Mahine for a house for the use of the 
Missionaries, when they arrive; you will let Mahine know 
where the house is to be, and he will get the people to re¬ 
move it there. Let it be at XJaeva, near you. 
* The Lady Peurhyn, which visited 'Tahiti in 1788. 
