HONESTY OF THE PEOPLE. 
247 
advantage was derived from the instructions they 
had received; and we have every reason to re¬ 
member, with pleasure, the hospitality and kind¬ 
ness we experienced. Once a week, the people 
of Maatea, a neighbouring district, brought our 
family a present of bread-fruit, and other articles 
of food; the inhabitants of Afareaitu, and the 
district of Teavaro, took a similar one to our com¬ 
panions. We reposed the most entire confidence 
in the people, and had no reason to regret even 
the exposure of our property. We were robbed 
by an English servant, whom we had taken from 
Port Jackson, of linen and clothing ; but, although 
we had no lock, and for a long time no bolt on our 
door, (which, when fastened, a native could at any 
time have opened, by putting his hand through the 
sticks and pushing back the bolt, and though 
sometimes the door was left open all night,)—yet 
we do not know that one single article was stolen 
from us by the natives, during the eighteen months 
we resided among them. 
I have visited the district only once since ; and 
although welcomed with every expression of glad¬ 
ness by the people, I experienced a sensation of 
melancholy interest, in walking over the garden, 
the fences of which had been taken down, 
and a few flourishing shrubs only remained, to 
mark its situation. Most of the valuable plants 
had been removed by the people to their own 
gardens, as the spot selected by me was not one 
which they would have preferred. A few cocoa- 
nuts which I had planted near the printing-office 
appeared to thrive, as they were protected by a 
light fence round each of the trees. 
When we were prepared to remove, the Haweis 
came round, took our goods, and the articles be- 
