338 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
and south, that might be occasionally visited by itine¬ 
rant preachers from Waiakea. 
In the afternoon I preached in front of the house 
where we held our worship on the last Sabbath. There 
were three Marquesians present, who arrived here but 
a few weeks ago. After the service was ended, they 
said it was maitai, or good. I asked them from what 
island they came. They said “ Fatuhiva,” (La Mag¬ 
dalena,) and that there were seven white men and two 
negroes living on their island, but they did not tell them 
any thing concerning Jehovah or Jesus Christ. I then 
asked them if they thought their countrymen would 
receive and protect Christian teachers. “Yes,” they 
all answered, “ we are sure they would.” “ But you 
kill and eat white people; missionaries would not be 
safe among you.” They seemed affected by this obser¬ 
vation, and, after a moment’s pause, exclaimed, “O, 
no! O, no!” you would not injure us, and should never 
be injured by us.” These strangers, possessing all the 
vivacity natural to their countrymen, could not fail to 
excite in our minds strong feelings of interest; and we 
can but hope a Christian mission will soon be esta¬ 
blished in those islands. Many advantages might be 
expected to result from it; and, among others, the 
security of vessels touching there for refreshments.* 
* The natives of these islands have frequently sent to Tahiti for 
teachers, and, since the above was written, they have been visited 
by Mr. Crook, a missionary, who was in 1797 stationed among 
them, but who is now labouring in Tahiti. The natives of Ta- 
huata were favourably disposed towards instruction, and three 
native teachers from the Society Islands were left among them, 
preparatory to the establishment of a permanent mission in the 
Marquesas. 
