NATIVE MISSIONARIES. 283 
the members of the church, and those who were 
baptized, to assemble in the place of worship in 
the evening. When they were convened, we 
met them, and after singing, and imploring in > 
prayer the Divine guidance, I acquainted them 
with the object of our meetmg—the opportunity 
afforded for sending two of our number to the 
Marquesas, on board the ship in_harbour,— 
and interrogated them as to whether we should 
do so or not. Hautia the governor, Auna, Taua, 
Pato, and Utu, all persons of influence among 
those assembled, expressed their joy at the pro- 
posal, and the whole lifted up their hands to 
signify their assent. I then said, ‘‘ Whom shall 
we send ?”” and mentioned the name of Matatore, 
one of the deacons of the church, a man in the 
prime of life, and one of the most sensible and 
useful men in the station, asking the members of 
the church if they thought he and his wife 
suitable persons. An answer was returned im the 
affirmative, and the hands of the assembly were 
lifted up. They were both present, and I asked 
them if it was agreeable to them to go. They 
both answered before the whole congregation, 
‘* Yes, it is agreeable.” Mr. Barff then addressed 
them, and mentioned Tiori, a valuable teacher in 
one of our schools; but some of the members 
objected, because he was an unmarried man. 
Mr. Barff next proposed Puna, but the same 
objection was urged. He then named Auna. 
The church immediately replied, ‘“ It is agreed.” 
Auna was then asked if it was agreed to by 
himself; he immediately replied, ‘“‘It has been 
agreed to long ago.” We had often talked on 
the subject: two years before this, in an inte- 
resting conversation, which I held with Auna, 
