388 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
CHAP. XVI. 
Improved circumstances of the females—Instruction in 
needle-work-—Introduction of European clothing—Its 
influence upon the people—Frequent singularity of their 
appearance—Development of parental affection—In¬ 
creased demand for British manufactures—-Native hats 
and bonnets—Reasons for encouraging a desire for Eu¬ 
ropean dress, &c.—Sabbath in the South Sea Islands—- 
Occupations of the precedingday—Earlymorning prayer- 
meetings—Sabbath Schools—Order of divine service—- 
School exercises—Contrast with idolatrous worship. 
While the enclosure of plantations and gardens, 
the erection of neat and commodious dwellings, 
schools, and the spacious place of worship, after 
the European plan, were rapidly altering the 
aspect of the settlement, the natives themselves 
were undergoing a change of appearance in perfect 
harmony with this transformation. The females, 
no longer exposed to that humiliating neglect to 
which idolatry had subjected them, enjoyed the 
comforts of domestic life, the pleasure resulting 
from the culture of their minds, the ability to read 
the scriptures, and to write in their own language, 
in which several excelled the other sex ; they also 
became anxious to engage in employments which 
are appropriated to their own sex in civilized and 
Christian communities. They were therefore taught 
to work at their needle, and soon made a pleasing 
proficiency. 
