168 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
time possessed a knowledge of the books in their 
native language, which were in daily use. Beside* 
eight hundred copies of the Abridgment of Scrip 
ture, and many copies of part of the Gospel ot 
St. Luke in manuscript, about two thousand seven 
hundred spelling-books had already been distri¬ 
buted among the pupils at Eimeo, or sent over to 
Tahiti; still they were unable to meet the daily 
increasing demands of the people. 
