62 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
pletely to divert the audience, who would at once 
turn with avidity from the Missionary, to the birds 
or the dogs. On some occasions, while they have 
been preaching, a number of Areois , or strolling 
players, passing by, have commenced their panto¬ 
mime or their dance, and drawn away every one 
of the hearers. At such times, those who had 
stood round the Missionary only to insult him by 
their insinuations, ridicule him by their vulgar wit, 
or afflict his mind by their death-like indifference 
to the important truths he had declared, have 
instantly formed a ring around the Areois, and 
gazed on their exhibitions of foliy and of vice with 
interest and pleasure. 
In addition to these sources of disturbance, they 
were sometimes charged with being the authors of 
all the disasters and suffering of the people, in 
consequence of praying to their God, whom the 
natives called a bad God when compared with 
Qro. Under these circumstances, it required no 
small degree of forbearance and self-possession, as 
well as patient toil, to persevere in preaching the 
gospel among a people whose spirit and conduct 
afforded so little encouragement to hope it would 
ever be by them received. 
Hitherto their labours had been confined to 
Tahiti; but in December, 1802, Mr. Bicknell, 
accompanied by Mr. Wilson, made a voyage to 
Eimeo, and, travelling round it, preached “ the 
unsearchable riches of Christ” to its inhabitants, 
many of whom appeared to listen with earnestness, 
and desired to be more fully instructed. 
The same year, in the month of November, 
Teu , an aged and respected chief, the father ot 
Pomare, and the grandfather of the king, died 
N at his habitation not far from the Mission-house. 
