170 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
annihilation, and furnishes a cause of hallowed 
triumph to the friends of moral order, humanity, 
and religion. 
No sooner did these deluded, polluted, and 
cruel people, receive the gospel of Christ, the ele¬ 
vated sentiments, sacred purity, and humane ten¬ 
dency of which, convinced them that it must have 
originated in a source as opposite to that whence 
idolatry had sprung, as light is to darkness, than 
the spell in which they had been for ages bound 
was dissolved, and the chains of their captivity 
were burst asunder. They were astonished at 
themselves, and were a wonder to all who beheld 
them. The fabled legends by which, as by en¬ 
chantment, they had been deceived, were banished 
from their recollections ; the abominations and the 
bloodshed to which they had been addicted, ceased; 
and they became moral, virtuous, affectionate, 
devout, and upright members of a Christian com¬ 
munity. There is reason to believe that many, 
even of the Areois, have been purified from their 
moral defilement, in that blood which cleanseth 
from all sin, and that the language addressed by 
the apostle to the Corinthians* may with propriety 
be applied to them. 
The astonishing and gratifying change which has 
taken place among them, nothing but Christian 
principles could have effected. Numbers of the 
Areois early embraced Christianity, and some from 
the highest orders were among the first converts. 
With few exceptions, they have been distinguished 
by ardour of zeal, and steady adherence to the 
religion of the Bible. Many of them have been 
its most regular and laborious teachers in our 
schools, and the most efficient and successful 
* 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10, 11. 
