220 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
there was but one book; while others were totally 
destitute. The inhabitants of the neighbouring 
islands were in still greater need. I have seen 
many who had written out the whole of the spelling- 
book on sheets of writing paper; and others who, 
unable to procure paper, had prepared pieces of 
native cloth with great care, and then, with a reed 
immersed in red or purple native dye, had written 
out the alphabet, spelling, and reading lessons, on 
these pieces of cloth, made with the bark of a tree. 
It was also truly affecting to see many of them, not 
with phylacteries, but with portions of scripture, 
or the texts they had heard preached from, written 
on scraps of paper, or fragments of cloth, preserved 
with care, and read till fixed in the memory of their 
possessors. This state of affairs, together with the 
earnest desire of the people to increase their know¬ 
ledge of sacred truth, rendered it desirable that the 
press should be set to work as soon as possible. 
Within three months after our arrival at Afareaitu, 
everything was in readiness, and, on the 10th of 
June, 1817, the operations preparatory to printing 
were commenced. 
Pomare, who was exceedingly delighted when 
he heard of its arrival, and had furnished every 
assistance in his power, both in the erection of the 
building, and the removal of the press, types, &c. 
from Papetoai, where they had been landed, was 
not less anxious to see it actually at work. He 
had for this purpose visited Afareaitu, and, on his 
return to the other side of the island, requested that 
he might be sent for whenever we should begin. 
A letter having been forwarded to inform him that 
we were nearly ready, he hastened to our settle¬ 
ment, and, in the afternoon of the day appointed, 
came to the printing-office, accompanied by a few 
