346 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
grass over it—occupying one part, while they 
board or plaster the other. 
In this state we found Navenavehia’s house, 
when we paid him our first visit. We recom¬ 
mended him to persevere in completing it, and, in 
order to encourage him, promised him nails to 
make doors, and whatever else was wanting. He 
assured us of his intention to board the floor, and 
partition off their bed-room ; but said, he thought 
they might as well live in it while he was doing 
this, and therefore had occupied it as soon as the 
walls were dry. 
The settlements in the Leeward Islands now 
began to assume a new aspect. Multitudes flocked 
from the different districts, to attend the means of 
instruction in the school, and on the Sabbath. The 
erection of a house upon the improved plan, regu¬ 
lating its size by the rank or means of the family 
for whom it was designed, became a kind of test of 
sincerity in professions of desire to be instructed ; 
for, to embrace Christianity, with the precepts 
which it inculcated, nothing could be more at 
variance than the habits of indolence and unsightly 
filthiness of their former habitations. 
Activity was now the order of the day. Frames 
of buildings were seen rising, with astonishing 
rapidity, in every part of the district; and houses 
of every size, from the lowly snug little cottage 
with a single door and window in front, to the large 
two-storied dwelling of the king or the chief. 
Buildings, also, in every stage of their progress, 
might be seen in a walk through the settlement: 
sometimes only a heap of spars and timber lay on 
the spot where the house was to be raised, but at 
other places the principal posts of the houses were 
erected, others were thatched, and some partially 
