338 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
might reap the advantage of instruction. A large 
school was in daily operation, and a numerous and 
attentive congregation met for public worship in 
the native chapel every Sabbath. Having adjusted 
our public arrangements, we returned to Huahine 
in the Haweis, in which Messrs. BarfF, Williams, 
and myself, proceeded to Tahiti. 
The change which had taken place in Tahiti 
and Eimeo, in consequence of the abolition of idol 
worship, had been exceedingly gratifying, as it 
regarded the general conduct of the people, their 
professed belief in the truth of revelation, and 
their desire to regulate their lives by its injunc¬ 
tions ; but the visible change which resulted from 
the establishment of the Missions in Huahine and 
Raiatea, was more striking, and did not fail to 
attract the notice, and command the approbation, 
of the most superficial observer. 
We did not deem what is usually termed civili¬ 
zation essential to their receiving the forgiveness 
of sin, enjoying the favour of God, exercising faith 
in Christ, and being after death admitted to the 
heavenly state ; yet we considered an improvement 
of their circumstances, and a change in their occu¬ 
pations, necessary to their consistent profession of 
Christianity, and the best means of counteracting 
that inveterate love of indolence to which from 
infancy they had been accustomed. Habits of 
application were also essential to the cultivation of 
intellect, the increase of knowledge, and enjoy¬ 
ment in the present life. This , was peculiarly 
desirable in reference to the rising generation, 
who were to be the future population, and who 
would arrive at years of maturity under circum¬ 
stances and principles as opposite as light and 
darkness to those under which their parents had 
