STATE OF HUAHINE. 253 
of boxes ; we passed a comfortable night, and rose 
refreshed in the morning, thankful for the kind 
protection w r e had experienced, gratified also to 
find that no article of our property had been stolen, 
though all was unavoidably exposed. 
The island of Huahine had, in common with 
the others forming the leeward group, been visited 
by Mr. Nott, who had travelled round it, preaching 
to the inhabitants of the principal villages. The 
Missionaries who had been expelled from Tahiti 
in 1808, had remained here some months prior to 
their final departure for Port Jackson; but at 
these periods only a temporary impression had 
been made upon the minds of the people, which 
had in a great degree, if not altogether, subsided. 
After the abolition of idolatry in Tahiti and Eimeo, 
and the subsequent adoption of Christianity by 
their inhabitants, Mahine, the king of Huahine, 
had sent down Vahaivi, one of his principal men, 
with directions to the chiefs to burn the idols, 
demolish the temples, and discontinue the cere¬ 
monies and worship connected therewith. This 
commission was executed, and not only were their 
objects of worship destroyed, their temples thrown 
down, the houses of their idols consumed, and 
idol-worship no longer practised ; but the rude 
stills employed in preparing ardent spirits from the 
sugarcane, and other indigenous productions, were 
either broken, or hid under ground. Intoxication, 
infant murder, and some of the more degrading 
vices, fostered under the sanction of their super¬ 
stition, were also discontinued. 
This change, although approved and effected by 
the principal chiefs on the islands, in conjunction 
with the messenger of the king, was nevertheless 
opposed. Several chiefs, of inferior influence, 
