30 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
could not but view it as a remarkable interposition of 
divine Providence in their favour, and a happy prelude 
to the introduction of that gospel which they had con¬ 
veyed to their shores. They had naturally expected 
that their landing would be opposed by the institutions 
of a system, which, however degrading and oppressive 
in its influence, had presented more than human claims 
to the support of its adherents,—and to be withstood by 
a numerous and influential class of priests, whose craft 
would be endangered so soon as they should present the 
paramount claims of the true God to the homage of 
the heart and uniform obedience of the life. Instead 
of this, they found the laws of the Tabu entirely abro¬ 
gated, and priests no longer existing as a distinct body, 
but merged in the other classes of the community. The 
whole nation was without any religion, and in this 
respect at least prepared to receive the dispensation of 
the gospel, recommended as it was, by an exemption 
from all the miseries of their former system, and the 
animating prospects of life and immortality. Notwith¬ 
standing this, the missionaries, in the commencement of 
their efforts to instruct the natives, met with some 
opposition from misinformed and jealous individuals, 
who entertained groundless suspicions as to the ultimate 
object of their mission. This, however, was overruled 
by Karaimoku, Keopuolani, and other leading chiefs, 
and the king willingly allowed them to remain at least 
for a year. 
They were accompanied by several native youths, 
whom a roving disposition had induced to visit America, 
where they had been educated in a school for instructing 
the aborigines of various heathen nations, designated 
the Foreign Mission School , and who, having given 
