SATURDAY NIGHT.

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women; but, on being invited, they accompanied the party to the new house. After the women and children were gone into it, the crowd still remained outside, and often called to them to show themselves at the door; and their request was granted.

Thus the whole family of missionaries were settled in their new abode on Saturday, just one week after they had caught sight of Tahiti. Then they had been full of anxious fears, not knowing how they should be treated by the savages; but now they blessed God for giving them favour in the eyes of the heathen.

They told the natives that the next day was the day of the true God; and that they should do no work upon it, nor receive any presents. The natives, however, brought them far more than enough food to last them till Monday. They said to the missionaries, "Shall you pray more than usual to-morrow?" The missionaries told them that they should.

At dusk the natives left the house, as they now always did, without being asked to do so.

CHAPTER IV.

1797, March.

HOW THE MISSIONARIES FIRST ATTEMPTED TO DO GOOD TO THE NATIVES.

You shall now hear how the missionaries passed their first sabbath on a heathen shore.

They had service in the chapel of their dwelling in the morning. Many of the natives attended and behaved well, though they understood nothing that was said. The king also was present.

In the afternoon they came again, and then Mr. Jefferson began to speak to them, and Andrew, the Swede, to interpret each sentence as he spoke it. This was an unpleasant way of preaching, particularly as the Swede was a wicked man, and could not speak affectionately to the people, as a pious man would have done. However, the missionaries were SO anxious to declare to the poor heathen the good news of a Saviour, that they could hardly bear to wait till they knew the language themselves.

When the natives saw that Mr. Jefferson was preaching to them, they began to look attentive,

THE FIRST SERMON.

25

and to ask questions in reply. They inquired, "Is this message to the servants, as well as to the king and queen ?”

The minister told them it was to all. He also said, "There is only one true God, and all men have offended him by wickedness; yet he is so merciful that he is willing to forgive all. If any believe his word, he blesses them while they live, and takes them to everlasting happiness."

The king looked very stubborn and unteachable during the service, and it seemed less likely that he should believe than any of the

rest.

The missionaries retired to rest again that evening, full of hope that God would incline the hearts of the people to believe his word.

I cannot continue to relate what occurred every day as I have hitherto done; for even if my reader should not be tired, the book would become too large; therefore I will only mention the most remarkable occurrences.

On Monday the captain saw for the first time the grandfather and the father of the king. Do not you wonder how it was that Otu was king while they were alive? for you know it is the custom in most countries for the son not to reign till the father is dead. But this was not the custom in Tahiti. As soon as a king had a son, the baby became king, unless his

26

POMARE AND OTEU.

father chose to kill him as soon as he was born. The father from that time rode no more on men's shoulders, and he himself showed respect to his own son, as to a king; yet the father still had the power of a king, though not all the honour of a king.

The father of Otu was called Pomare. He was a very wise man for a heathen. Once he had been only a chief, but he had conquered all the other chiefs in Tahiti, and had become king of the whole island, as well as of an island near it, called E-i-me-o. He was the largest, tallest man in the whole island, and had a pleasant, cheerful manner. He was still treated with so much respect, that it was thought improper for him to feed himself; when he drank tea in the ship, his servants poured the tea into the saucer, and held it to his mouth.

His wife Idia accompanied him to the ship. She was a tall, strong woman, who had often shed blood in battles.

Oteu, the grandfather, was above seventy years old, and had grey hair and a very long white beard. He was treated with great rudeness by his son Pomare, and his grandson Otu, on account of his age: for it was one of the sinful practices of Tahiti to treat old men with rudeness. Pomare would hardly let the old man come into the captain's cabin when they visited the ship, and tried to make him stay in

POMARE'S COVETOUSNESS.

27

his canoe. The heathen knew not the command, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man."

Pomare had many great faults. He was very fond of eating and drinking. Once when he dined with the captain, he ate a whole fowl, besides two pounds of pork, and drank a great deal of wine. Another day he drank almost a whole bottle of wine, appearing to begrudge Mane-mane (who was as fond of good things as himself) one single glass. The wine was, of course, poured down his throat by his

servants.

Pomare was also very covetous, and did not scruple to tell lies when convenient. He made indeed handsome presents, but it was only in the hope of getting more in return. The first day he came to the ship he brought four large pieces of cloth, made of bark, and wrapped them round the captain, besides four more as a present from his wife. A few days afterwards he came again with another piece of cloth, but this time he brought also a large chest. The captain knew well that Pomare intended him to fill it with presents, but pretending not to understand, he asked him what it was for. Pomare seemed perplexed at the question, (being ashamed to own his intention,) and said he only wanted to have the lock repaired. The captain then told him to take