190 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
proceed in the dark, without being every moment 
in danger of stumbling over the sharp projections 
of the rocks, or falling into some of the deep and 
wide fissures that intersected the bed of lava in 
every direction. After waiting about an hour, 
they resumed their journey; and Messrs. Bishop 
and Goodrich reached Tairitii nearly half an hour 
after Mr. Thurston’s arrival. 
At 10 a. m. Mr. Thurston preached to the 
people of Tairitii, and the neighbouring village of 
Patini, all of whom are fishermen. They behaved 
with propriety, and appeared interested. We had 
sent out Makoa, our guide, soon after our arrival, 
to inform the people that there would be a reli¬ 
gious meeting, and invite their attendance. He 
had gone much further than we expected he 
would ; and just as Mr. Thurston had finished his 
sermon, he returned, followed by a considerable 
company from an inland settlement, who, to use 
their own words, had come to hear about Jehovah 
and Jesus Christ. They seemed disappointed at 
finding the service over. As they said they could 
not wait till the evening, they and the people of 
the village assembled in a large canoe-house, and 
Mr. Thurston preached again of salvation through 
Jesus Christ. They sat very quietly, and listened 
with apparent attention. After they had spent an 
hour or two in conversation with us, they returned, 
seemingly interested in what they had heard. In 
the afternoon, Mr. Thurston preached a third time. 
Between seventy and eighty were present. With 
most of those who have attended the public wor¬ 
ship in this place, this day was probably the first 
time they ever heard of Jehovah the living God, or 
Jesus Christ the Saviour. We could not but 
desire and pray that the Holy Spirit might make 
