RIMATARA. 
391 
diligence to the accomplishment of their object, 
and such was the success with which their exer¬ 
tions were attended, that, when Mr. Williams 
visited them, in October, 1823, fifteen months after 
the arrival of the native teachers, he found the in¬ 
habitants had renounced their idols, and were living 
in harmony among themselves, and with their 
teachers, whom they greatly respected. They had 
erected a place for the worship of the true God. 
This building was sixty feet long, and thirty wide; 
the walls were plastered, and the floor was boarded. 
A neat pulpit, of excellent workmanship, built, 
as was also the chapel, after the plan of that 
in which the teachers had been accustomed to 
worship in their native island, was also finished. 
It was opened for divine worship during Mr. Wil¬ 
liams’ visit; and the congregation, including the 
greater part of the population, amounting to about 
three hundred, presented a most interesting spec¬ 
tacle. The females were neatly dressed in white 
native cloth, each one wearing a bonnet, which the 
wives of the teachers had taught them to make. 
Men, who had grown old in the service of idolatry, 
and who had never met for worship in any but a 
pagan temple, now assembled to render homage 
to the living God. The venerable figures, whose 
heads were grey with years, appeared in striking 
contrast with the youth and sprightliness of the 
children by whom they were surrounded. During 
the service, all appeared interested and attentive. 
At this time, the entire population were under 
instruction; and the children’s school contained 
130 scholars. 
About the time of the commencement of the 
Mission, an American seaman, of the name of Robert, 
accompanied by a number of natives, undertook 
