278 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
uncultivated minds, to the fugitive manner of life, 
mirthful disposition, and rude state of society that 
prevailed among the islanders, appeared one of 
the most formidable barriers to their receiving our 
instructions, imbibing the spirit and exhibiting the 
moral influence of religion, and advancing in 
civilization. All classes were alike insensible to 
the gratification arising from mental improvement, 
and ignorant of the enjoyments of social and 
domestic life, the comforts of home, and the 
refinements and conveniences which arts and 
labour add to the bestowments of Providence. 
The difficulties we encountered resulted not less 
from the inveteracy of their idle habits, than from 
the absence of all inducements to labour, that 
were sufficiently powerful to call into action their 
dormant energies. Their wants were few, and 
their desires limited to the means of mere animal 
existence and enjoyment; these were supplied 
without much anxiety or effort, and, possessing 
these, they were satisfied. 
During the early periods of their residence in 
the islands, our predecessors often endeavoured to 
rouse them from their abject and wretched modes 
of life, by advising them to build more comfortable 
dwellings, to wear more decent clothing, and to 
adopt, so far as circumstances would admit, the 
conveniences and comforts of Europeans. While 
the inhabitants continued heathens, their endea¬ 
vours were altogether unavailing. The people 
frequently said, “ We should like some of these 
things very well, but we cannot have them without 
working; that we do not like, and therefore would 
rather do without them. The bananas and the 
plantains, &c. ripen on the trees, and the pigs 
fatten on the fruits that are strewed beneath them, 
