162 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
Crowds, who never had before attended any wor¬ 
ship but that of their demon gods, might now be 
seen repairing to the rustic and lowly temple 
erected for Jehovah’s praise ; amidst their throngs 
mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters, who never 
were before allowed to join the other sex in any 
acts of worship. Few remained behind; all the 
inhabitants of the district or village, who were 
able, attended public worship. It is true, there 
was no Missionary to preach the gospel to them, 
or to lead their public service, yet it was per¬ 
formed with earnestness, propriety, and devotional 
feeling. 
The more intelligent among the natives, who 
had been longest under instruction at Eimeo, 
usually presided. They sung a hymn ; a portion 
of their scripture history, which was entirely com¬ 
posed of scripture extracts, was read ; and prayer, 
in simplicity of language but sincerity of heart, was 
offered up to God. Those who had not printed 
books, wrote out portions of scripture for these 
occasions, and sometimes the prayers they used. 
These were often remarkably simple, expressive, 
and appropriate : I have one of Pomare’s by me, 
in his own hand-writing, furnished by Mr. Nott. 
There is no date affixed to it, but from the evident 
frequency with which it has been used, and the 
portion of scripture written on the preceding pages 
of the same sheet of paper, I am inclined to think 
it was written about this period. The prayer is 
excellent, and the translation, which I also 
received from Mr. Nott, will require from the 
Christian reader no apology for its insertion, as a 
specimen of the style and sentiments employed by 
the natives of Tahiti in their devotional services. 
It is as follows.:— 
