320 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
sary. In order to convince them of the propriety 
of this, they were told we should only distribute 
copies of the Scriptures to those who could read 
any part on looking at it. 
The native teachers had fallen into this practice, 
from the influence of former habits. All their 
knowledge, traditions, songs, &c. were preserved 
by memory; and the preceptor recited them to his 
pupil, till the latter could repeat them correctly. 
The matter of the lessons, they also thought was 
the great thing to be remembered ; and this, toge¬ 
ther with a desire to facilitate the advancement 
of those under their care, led them to adopt the 
method of teaching the scholars to repeat lessons 
without due attention to the words of the book. It 
has been, however, discontinued. 
After the conclusion of the usual school exer¬ 
cises. Mr. BarfF appropriated half an hour to the 
instruction of the natives in the art of singing. The 
islanders in general are fond of singing, and always 
ready to learn. They have not such sweet melo¬ 
dious voices as the natives of Africa have, yet learn 
to sing, considering their circumstances, remark¬ 
ably well. Many of the female voices are clear 
and soft, without being weak; and they usually 
perform parts appropriated to the female voice 
better than the men do theirs. 
Translations of the most approved psalms and 
hymns, with a number that are original, have been 
prepared in the native language, in almost every 
variety of metre. To these the most popular 
English tunes are affixed ; and with most of those 
sung by ordinary congregations in England, the 
natives are acquainted. Mr. Davies, I believe, 
first taught them to sing, and a tune usually called 
“ George's” was the first they learned. On our 
