RAPA. 
373 
imagined, had thus punished them for their atten¬ 
tion to the accounts from Tahiti. The teachers, 
however, landed their goods, and the frame-work of 
the chapel. The chiefs received them with every 
mark of respect and hospitality, pointed out an 
eligible spot for their residence, gave them some 
adjacent plantations of taro, and promised them 
protection and aid. 
The Sabbath which Mr. Davies spent there was 
probably the first ever religiously observed on the 
shores of Rapa. Several of the natives attended 
public worship, and appeared impressed with the 
services. These being performed in the Tahitian 
language, were not unintelligible to them. The 
native teachers were members of the church at 
Papara; and as they were but few in number, 
and were surrounded by a heathen population in a 
remote and solitary island, it being then expected 
the vessel would sail on that or the following day, 
they joined with Mr. Davies their pastor in comme¬ 
morating the death of Christ, under the impression 
that it was the last time they should ever unite in 
this hallowed ordinance. 
Situated some degrees from the southern tropic, 
the climate is bracing and salubrious, the soil is 
fertile, and while it nourishes many of the valuable 
roots and fruits of the intertropical regions, is pro¬ 
bably not less adapted to the more useful produc¬ 
tions of temperate climes. Mr. Davies estimates 
the population at about two thousand. Vancouver 
supposed that Rapa contained not less than fifteen 
hundred, merely from those he saw around his 
ship. In their language, complexion, general cha¬ 
racter, and superstitions, they resemble the other 
islanders of the Pacific, though less civilized in their 
