126 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
many a child driven from the parental roof, solely 
on account of their attachment to the new religion. 
In Tahiti, the idolaters proceeded to the greatest 
acts of lawless violence and horrid murder. 
More than once, individuals were selected to be 
offered in sacrifice to the gods, only because they 
were Christians. Mr. Davies, in his journey 
round Tahiti, in 1816, met with the murderer of the 
young man who was offered in sacrifice by the 
people of Taiarabu, to insure success in their last 
attack upon the people of Atehuru and Papara, 
and whose tragical death, he justly considered, 
ought to be recorded, because it is hoped it was 
“ the last human sacrifice offered in Tahiti/’ and 
because the victim was selected “ on account of his 
attachment to Christianity.” 
Aberahama, an interesting and intelligent young 
man, who was a pupil in our school at Eimeo, was 
marked out as a victim; and, when the servants of 
the priests came to take him, being obliged to fly 
for his life, he was pursued by the murderers, shot 
at, wounded, and but narrowly escaped. When 
he received the ball, he fell, and, unable to save 
himself by flight, crawled among the bushes, and 
hid himself so completely, as to elude the vigilant 
search of his enemies, although it was continued 
for some time, and they often passed near his 
retreat. Under cover of the darkness of night, he 
crept down to the dwelling of his friends, who 
dressed his wound, and conveyed him to a place 
of safety. But, although he recovered from the 
shot, and lives, not only to enjoy the blessings ot 
the gospel in this world, and to be useful in im¬ 
parting its benefits to others, he will, to adopt the 
language of Mr. Davies, “ carry the honourable 
scar to his grave.” 
