108 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
approved, and followed us to the edge of the 
circle, where we took our station, opposite the 
musicians. At the governor’s request the music 
ceased, and the dancer came and sat down just in 
front of us. We sang a hymn ; I then offered up 
a short prayer, and afterwards addressed the 
people from Acts xiv. 15 ; “ And preach unto 
you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto 
the living God, which made heaven and earth, and 
the sea, and all things that are therein.” The 
multitude collected was from different and distant 
parts of the island, and appeared to listen with 
attention to the word spoken. To many, it was 
doubtless the first time they had heard of the 
name of Jehovah, or of Jesus Christ his Son, and 
we afterwards heard them conversing among them¬ 
selves about the truths they had heard. 
After supper and family worship at the gover¬ 
nor’s, I spent the evening in conversation with 
him, partly on traditions respecting some remark¬ 
able places in the neighbourhood of Kairua, and 
partly on the subject of religion. I spoke on the 
desirableness of his building a place for the public 
worship of the true God, and the advantages of 
keeping the Sabbath as a day of holy rest, recom¬ 
mending him to set the common people a good 
example, and use his influence to induce them to 
attend public service on the Lord’s day. He said 
it was his intention to build a church by and by, 
when the maka-ainana should become interested 
in these things, and when they should have a Mis¬ 
sionary to reside permanently with them ; but that 
at present the people at Kairua were indifferent to 
all religion. 
For several days past we have observed many of 
the people bringing home from their plantations 
