90 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
provement and Christian propriety; and it is pro-« 
bable that there is more immorality among the 
inhabitants, and more disorder in the churches, at 
the stations which are the resort of shipping, than 
in all others throughout the islands. Still the 
churches there, have not been, and are not, without 
some indication of the Divine care and blessing. 
Subsequently, churches were formed in Raiatea, 
Tahaa, and Borabora, which have in general pros- 
pered. As their constitution and proceedings 
resemble those of Huahine, it is unnecessary to 
detail their origin or progress. I have selected 
that in Huahine, not because it is superior to 
others for its order, or faith, or the piety of its 
members, but because it was that of which I was, 
with my esteemed colleague, a pastor, till the pro- 
vidence of God called me to another field of Mis- 
sionary labour—and because it was planted in the 
station at which I spent the greater part of the time 
I resided in the South Sea Islands. 
I have also been minute, perhaps too much so, 
in detailing its nature, order, and discipline. This 
has not arisen from a desire to give it undue pro- 
minency, but because it forms an important epoch 
in the history of the people, and is a matter of con- 
siderable interest with many who are concerned in 
the extension of the Christian faith throughout the — 
world; I also conceived the patrons of the South 
Sea Mission entitled to the most ample information 
on the subject. 
It has not been my object to exhibit the plan 
and order of this, or the other churches in those 
islands, as models of perfection, nor to claim for 
them any degree of excellency which others, 
formed and regulated differently in some minor 
respects, might not possess; but simply to narrate 
