READY ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC WORSHIP. 387 
be heard at a distance. These circumstances ap¬ 
pear trivial, but they serve to shew the expedients 
resorted to in a state of society so peculiar as that 
now prevailing in the South Sea Islands. 
For school the bell is rung, the shell sounded, 
or the bar of iron beaten, only once; which is 
about a quarter of an hour before it commences. 
For public worship it is repeated a second time— 
once at a quarter before the commencement, and 
again immediately preceding the service ; and in¬ 
different as the means of giving public notice are, 
there is no cause to complain of delay or interrup¬ 
tion, from the late attendance of the people. They 
are punctual in repairing to the house of prayer 
after the first intimation, and are usually all as¬ 
sembled before the period for the service to 
commence has arrived. Their ready and early 
attendance is a circumstance cheering to their 
teachers, who often receive a message, informing 
them, that though it may not be time to ring the 
second bell, the house is full, and the people are 
waiting. This is not only manifested with regard 
to their Sabbath-day services, but their lecture on 
Wednesday evening, and their monthly Missionary 
prayer-meetings. It is true, their occupations at 
home are seldom very urgent, and they have not 
much to neglect; it is nevertheless encouraging to 
notice, that they do not wish to avoid a place of 
worship, when a public service is held. 
2 c 2 
