44 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
add, that the persons always became furious with 
madness, and died. They had no idea of phlebo¬ 
tomy as a remedy for disease, but were clever at 
lancing an abscess, which was generally effected 
with the thorn from a kind of bramble, or a shark’s 
tooth. 
However great the influence of those persons, 
who administered medicine, or practised surgery, 
might formerly have been, it has entirely ceased 
since the people have been acquainted with the 
more certain and efficacious application of English 
remedies. Like the priests in their temples for¬ 
merly, the minister of their religion, at every station, 
is now sought in all cases of sickness, as their 
physician; and no small portion of our time was 
occupied in administering medicine, so far as our 
scanty means would admit. 
This is a task necessarily devolving upon the 
Missionaries, as the only Europeans residing 
amongst them, either possessing medicine, or 
knowing how to use it; and it is a claim which 
we never desired to refuse. It is perfectly compa¬ 
tible with the higher duties of our station—the 
cure of their spiritual maladies. We have only to 
regret that we have not possessed better qualifica¬ 
tions, and more ample means for its efficient dis¬ 
charge. So long as our family medicine has 
lasted, we have been ready to share it with those 
who were in need, and have often been thankful 
(when afflicted ourselves, and destitute) to receive 
the simple remedies they were able to supply. 
The Missionary Society has readily furnished us 
with medical books and instruments; and for our 
own use, a liberal supply of medicines : but it has 
generally been inadequate to the wants of the 
people. Medicine is expensive, and perhaps it 
