because the king was always employing them in stealing things for him, and they felt sure he only wanted them to have his servants, that they might rob them and bring him the things.

But murder, which is a much more horrible crime than stealing, was quite common. The missionaries tried to persuade Pomare to forbid people to kill their children. They endeavoured also to persuade Mane-mane to offer no more human sacrifices. Both Pomare and Manemane promised to do as the missionaries wished, but they did not keep their promise.

One Sunday Mr. Lewis preached upon "Thou shalt not kill." The people said afterwards," Good is the word, not to kill children, not to sacrifice men." Mane-mane was observed to whisper something to another native. The missionaries asked him what he had said, and he replied, "I was telling the people to leave off their wicked ways." Yet he had not left off his own wicked ways. He was like the men to whom Paul speaks in Rom. ii. 1.

Before the ship left, Mane-mane was one day observed to drink more wine than usual. The reason was, he was going to kill a man, and wanted the wine to keep up his courage, which showed that he felt it to be a horrible work.

About this time Pomare's wife Idia killed

WRITTEN SERMONS.

39

her baby. The missionaries had told her often how wicked it was to do such things; they had even promised that their wives would take care of all babies that the natives did not like to bring up. So they were much displeased with Idia. Soon afterwards she came with a large present of hogs to the missionaries; but they would not accept them, and told Andrew to tell her the reason. She was much offended, and said she should observe the customs of the country without caring for their displeasure; she would not, however, take back her present. She had before given the missionaries some wood with which to make her a chest. They thought it right to give her this chest, and she carried it off with pleasure.

The hogs Idia had left, the missionaries desired Mane-mane to divide among the natives; but he took them all home to his own house.

Such were the people amongst whom the missionaries lived. They were continually praying for them, and sighing over their lost state, but they could not yet preach to them as much as they wished. Often they had no interpreter at hand, for Peter was gone with Captain Wilson, and Andrew was frequently absent; so they used to write short sermons, and get Andrew to help them to translate them, and then they read the sermons to the natives. The natives

40

THE SHIP'S RETURN.

still said the word was good, but they themselves continued as bad as ever.

CHAPTER VI.

July, 1797.

MANY CURIOUS AND STRANGE THINGS

THAT A

TRAVELLER REMARKED AS HE WALKED ROUND TAHITI.

THE ship had been gone about three months, when, early on the morning of July 6th, the missionaries heard a cry, "Ti pahi, Ti pahi!" which they knew meant, "The ship, The ship!"

They were much delighted, and, hastening out of the house, beheld the white sails of the ship at a little distance glistening in the sun. People who live in foreign countries are more pleased to see their countrymen than we can imagine.

The missionaries immediately went in boats to the ship. They were surprised to find that one of the missionaries (named Harris) who had intended to be left at some distant islands, was returned to live with them at Tahiti. He had not liked the wild people in the islands of the Marquesas, and had changed

DIVISION OF PROPERTY.

41

his mind, and had wished to return to Tahiti. It is not a good sign when people are so apt to change their minds.

The missionaries had a great deal to tell the captain and sailors, who were delighted to find that the Tahitians had not hurt the missionaries while the ship was absent. They also heard that Mrs. Henry had had a baby; so that now there were three little children in the missionaries' house.

Many natives also came to welcome their old friends; they had learned some more English sentences, and some of them said, "Welcome again; glad to see you, Captain Wilson."

The missionaries had not been idle during the ship's absence: they had not only built a blacksmith's shop, (as you have heard,) but also a printing-house for Mr. Lewis to print in, and a large boat. This boat had been made of a flat shape, that it might go up the river that flowed by the missionaries' house, (for the river was not deep enough for common boats.) The captain had a quantity of things on board for the missionaries; and he wished to give some to those at Tahiti, and to take the rest back to those he had left in the Friendly Islands. This boat would be useful in conveying the things to the missionaries' house.

Four missionaries were to come to the ship

to divide the things. These men were not covetous like the natives of Tahiti, and would not take even as much as their own share, though the things were such as they wanted exceedingly-axes, hammers, knives, and scissors, and other articles which could not be had at Tahiti. The captain saw that it would take a long while to divide the property; therefore he promised not to leave the island for three weeks.

Idia, you remember, was in disgrace with the missionaries. She now sent a message to ask them whether she might come to see them again. They were glad to see her pride was a little humbled; though they knew that probably her reason for wishing to be in favour was, that she might get more presents. They agreed that Mr. Cover should go to her, and see whether she expressed sorrow for having murdered her infant. He went, and as Idia said she was sorry, (though he feared she was not sincere,) he invited her to drink tea with his wife that evening. She came and remained till dark, and returned appearing much pleased with her visit.

On the next Sunday the missionaries went to the ship to preach to the sailors; and they were glad to find that none of the natives came there in their canoes during the day.

Captain Wilson was anxious to discover how