166 POLYNESIAN RESLARCHES. 
time possessed a knowledge of the books in their 
native language, which were in daily use. Besides 
eight hundred copies of the Abridgment of Scrip 
ture, and many copies of part of the Gospel ot 
St. Luke in manuscript, about two thousand seven 
hundred spelling-books had already been distri- 
buted among the pupils at Eimeo, or sent over to 
Tahiti; still they were unable to meet the daily 
increasing demands of the people. 
