390 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
to sew ! Mrs. Ellis said, Why should I pay you 1 
in our country it is customary for those instructed 
to pay their teachers. The woman answered with 
some earnestness, You asked me to come and 
learn—I have been here so long—I have learnt. 
It must be in some way advantageous to you, or 
you would not have been so anxious about it; and as 
I have done what you wished me to do, you ought 
to pay me for it. She was told that the labour of 
teaching had been gratuitous, and the advantage 
resulting was all her own; and appeared satisfied 
when assured, that now she had learned, she 
should be regularly paid for the needlework she 
might do. This, however, at the time to which 
I now refer, 1819, was a rare occurrence; 
although, in the earlier periods of the Mission, it 
had been frequently manifested, not only in 
regard to needlework, but every department of 
instruction. 
Accustomed only to perform those services that 
were for the advantage of foreigners, the natives 
had been usually paid for the same. They could 
not conceive, notwithstanding the frequent expla¬ 
nations given, why the Missionaries should be so 
desirous for their learning to read, &c. if they 
were not, in some way or other, benefited thereby : 
hence, many of the early scholars expected to be 
paid for learning, and I believe some for appearing 
at the chapel. This, however, was only manifested 
during the time when very few could be induced 
to attend, and none perhaps came from the in¬ 
fluence of that desire for Christian instruction 
which attended the general profession of Christi¬ 
anity. After this period, it was only shewn by 
those who were actuated by a desire to obtain the 
favour of their superiors. 
