24. POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
ably fine, the weather warm, the streams abun- 
dant, and the waters clear as crystal; and, had we 
been disposed to perform the service in the open 
air, under the shade of a spreading grove, we had 
every facility for so doing. The converts might 
have been led into the river, and, standing on the 
bank or in the stream ourselves, we might have 
applied its waters to their persons, using the words 
prescribed. On such occasions, the most delight- 
ful scenes, of which it is possible for imagination 
to conceive, would have been presented; scenes 
similar, perhaps, to those often witnessed in the 
days of the apostles; and for the sake of effect, 
and the associations they would have awakened, 
I have sometimes for a moment wished we 
had. But the wish has only been momentary ; 
for whatever might have been the impression of 
such a scene, or the emotions enkindled, they 
would not have been attended with any valuable 
practical result. On the present, therefore, and 
every subsequent occasion, the rite was adminis- 
tered before the whole congregation in the place 
of worship. 
During the ordinary morning service, the ap- 
proved candidates sat in front of the pulpit. At 
its close, they kept their places, and, after implor- 
ing the divine blessing upon the service, we pro- 
ceeded to its performance. Their profession of 
faith in Christ, and desire to be instructed in his 
word, had been received at a preceding meeting ; 
and it was only necessary now, after a short address 
to the whole, to ask the name of each adult, and 
the parents the names of their children. This, 
Mr. Davies did,—beginning with Mahine, the 
principal hereditary chieftain of the island. Having 
received his reply, Mr. Davies immersed his hand 
