426 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
in their families was regularly observed; and 
among the many inquiries in reference to this 
subject, it was once asked, whether Jesus Christ 
had family prayer with his disciples; whether, 
in their own houses, in the event of the sickness 
or absence of the husband, the wife should not 
convene the family, and perform this important 
duty? » 
Portions of scripture history and biography were 
among the most engaging subjects of inquiry, 
especially those contained in the Old Testament. 
Those in the New Testament also interested them. 
On one occasion, they asked what the heavy 
burdens were that our Lord accused the scribes 
and pharisees of binding on men’s shoulders ; and 
what was meant by “ Let the dead bury their 
dead.” At another time they inquired who were 
the scribes, so often mentioned by the Saviour; 
and asked if they were the secretaries of the 
Missionary Societies in Jerusalem ? &c. This 
arose from the circumstance of the word, which 
in English is translated scribe , being in Tahitian 
rendered writer , and the secretaries of the native 
Missionary societies being the only individuals 
among them thus designated. 
The usages and customs prevailing among the 
ancient Jews were often topics of conversation, 
and more than once they have, with evident sin¬ 
cerity, inquired if their repentance would not be 
more acceptable to God, were they to rend their 
garments, and cover their heads with ashes, or gird 
themselves with sackcloth, than simply expressing 
their penitence. This question, with those fre¬ 
quently asked relative to the consequences of 
mistakes or interruption in prayer, probably arose 
from the impression left by the system of idolatry 
