THE MARQUESANS. 
319 
have resided for a long time among them, forces 
upon my mind the belief, that they perpetrate this 
unnatural crime to as great an extent, and under 
circumstances as aggravating, as it has been met 
with in any age of the world, or among any por¬ 
tion of mankind- 
The proximity of the Marquesans to the Society 
Islands—frequent intercourse formerly maintained 
between the islands by means of trading vessels— 
their identity in language, traditions, manners, and 
customs with the latter—their numbers, which are 
said to exceed those of the inhabitants of the southern 
islands—could not fail to make them objects of in¬ 
terest to those engaged in improving the temporal 
and spiritual state of the Tahitians. In 1797, a Mis¬ 
sion was attempted in Tahuata, but, after a residence 
of about twelve months, Mr. Crook was unexpectedly 
removed from the islands, and no attempt to intro¬ 
duce Christianity amongst them was made until 
1821, when two natives, from Huahine, were ap¬ 
pointed to these islands; and I accompanied them, 
for the purpose of assisting their introduction, 
and ascertaining the state and disposition of the 
people, with a view to the ultimate establishment 
of European Missionaries among them. Circum¬ 
stances occurred during the voyage, which pre¬ 
vented the native teachers from settling at their 
original destination, and led to their residence in 
the Sandwich Islands. In 1225 the attempt was 
renewed, and Mr. Crook conducted thither two 
native teachers from Huahine, and one from Tahiti. 
Several natives, who had known Mr. Crook during 
his former abode, welcomed his return with glad¬ 
ness. The females recited a ballad composed on 
his arrival, as the adopted son of their late chief 
Tenae. Some of the inhabitants, he heard, had 
