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POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
told him it was from that book we obtained our 
knowledge of these things; and that it was the 
contents of that book which we had come to teach 
the people of Hawaii. He then asked if all the 
people in our native countries were acquainted 
with the bible. I answered, that from the abun¬ 
dant means of instruction enjoyed there, the 
greater portion of the people had either read the 
book, or had in some other way become acquainted 
with its principal contents. He then said, How is 
it that such numbers of them swear, get intoxi¬ 
cated, and do so many things prohibited in that 
book ? He was told, that there was a vast differ¬ 
ence between knowing the word of God, and 
obeying it; and that it was most likely, those 
persons knew their conduct was displeasing to 
God, yet persisted in it, because agreeable to their 
corrupt inclinations. He asked if God would not 
be angry with us for troubling him so frequently 
with our prayers ? If he was like man, he said, he 
was sure he would. I replied, that God was 
always “ waiting to be gracious,” more ready to 
hear than we were to pray; that indeed he was 
not like man, or his patience would have been ex¬ 
hausted long ago by the wickedness of men ; but 
that he continued exercising long-suffering and 
forbearance towards sinners, that they might turn 
from their wickedness and live. 
We supped with the governor as usual, and, 
after family worship with his household, prepared 
our baggage for our journey, some of which we 
left to be forwarded by the Ainoa to Waiakea, a 
district on the eastern side of the island. 
About eleven o’clock in the forenoon, on the 
18th, we waited on the governor, to express our 
grateful sense of the generous hospitality we had 
