108 
VOYAGE TO THE 
Taoorawa are in sight at the distance of about fifteen miles; 
their appearance is dreary, with lowering clouds constantly 
resting on the summits of their dark hills. 
On the southern point of the bay, and close to the shore, 
are the ruins of a heiua or morai; and as we trod over the 
confused mass of stones, we rejoiced in the thought that its 
monstrous gods are for ever destroyed, and its bloody sa¬ 
crifices for ever ended. Seven short years have sufficed to 
put an end to a most barbarous superstition, to detach the 
whole nation from idolatry, and to plant among them the 
pure faith and morals of the Christian law. A church 
capable of containing six hundred persons has lately been 
erected here: its walls are of reeds, lined with the woven 
leaves of the lauhala ; and the roof, covered with the ti-leaf, 
is supported by strong poles. The whole is exceedingly 
neat and even elegant. The chiefs are extremely kind to 
the missionary, and have allotted him a house and piece of 
land sufficient for his wants. 
While we were walking to the morai, Mr. Dam pier 
was engaged in sketching the scenery, and we found him 
surrounded by the natives, who appeared curious as to his 
occupation, but were very civil and obliging, taking the 
greatest care not to intercept his view, and as each tree ap¬ 
peared in the sketch, called to each other to look, pointing 
