92 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
penitence, and returned to a more sober way of 
thinking, and to a deportment strictly honourable 
and virtuous. The instances of this defection have 
not been numerous; and I am gratified to know, 
that the greater part of those united in fellowship are 
increasing in knowledge of the scripture, and sta¬ 
bility of Christian character; that a number of young 
persons, several from the Sunday schools, have 
joined it; and that, though formed by sixteen indi¬ 
viduals in the spring of 1820, it contained, in the 
autumn of 1827, nearly five hundred members. 
