326 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
the Gospels, answer a variety of questions, and 
pass through the whole of his examination with 
scarcely a single mistake. This was the case with 
several on that occasion. At the close of the 
examination, the children were rewarded by 
Mr. BarfF, who, on delivering the presents, which 
were different books in the native language, 
accompanied each by a suitable remark to the 
favoured proprietor. Often, as the little boy has 
walked back to the seat with his prize—perhaps a 
copy of one of the Gospels—I have seen the 
mother's eye follow the child with all a parent's 
emotion beaming in her eye, while the tear 
of pleasure has sparkled there; and, in striking 
contrast with this, the childless mother might be 
seen weeping at the recollection of the infants, 
which, under the influence of idolatry, she had 
destroyed—and which, but for her own murderous 
hands, might have mingled in the throng she then 
beheld before her. On the occasion above alluded 
to, when the examinations in the place of worship 
had terminated, the children walked, in the same 
order in which they were accustomed to proceed 
from the school to the chapel, to a rising 
ground in the vicinity of the governor’s house. 
Here an entertainment had been provided for 
them by the chiefs. We followed, amid the 
multitude of their parents and friends; and, on 
reaching the place of assemblage, beheld about 
three hundred boys sitting in classes on the 
grass on the right-hand side of the rising ground, 
each teacher presiding at the head of his class. 
On the left-hand, about two hundred girls were 
arranged in the same manner. A plentiful repast 
had been prepared, which was carved, and handed 
to them as they sat upon the green turf. In the 
