20

FIRST NIGHT IN TAHITI.

to go away, and not to return till the morning; and when they were gone, the little band of Christians held their regular family worship alone and undisturbed. They supped upon the remains of their dinner, and for the first time slept on a heathen shore. Their hearts were overflowing with thankfulness to God for having brought them across the ocean to this distant spot, and for having inclined the hearts of strangers to receive them so kindly. All they desired was, that their message might be believed, and that the Lord might be honoured by these poor idolaters.

The next day was Thursday. Early in the morning the natives came to the house, and boiled the water, and prepared cocoa-nuts and bread-fruit for the missionaries' breakfast.

The missionaries had not yet finished fitting up the house, so that they continued to work hard. However, they went to the ship to dinner, and some of the natives went with them. Otu went in his canoe; but not being able, on account of his sacredness, to enter the ship, he remained paddling near in his canoe, and called out for something to eat. The captain sent him half a roast pig in a dish and some biscuit. Otu, highly delighted, paddled to the shore with his present.

The missionaries returned after dinner to their work; but they did not find the natives

THE BOX OF DRESSES.

21

so active as before. They were now tired of fetching bamboos; but, upon a reward being promised, they brought by evening a good quantity.

So many presents of food arrived, that the missionaries began to fear they should not be able to make as many presents in return as the givers would expect, who they knew were interested, covetous creatures.

On Friday the captain came early from the ship with a box in his boat containing dresses for the king and queen. Otu was on the beach as usual; for he had a little shed built near, that he might always be at hand. Peter showed Otu the box, and telling him what was in it, asked him to go with them to a place close to his house, in order that he might be able to dismount.

The whole party soon stopped under a tree near the king's shed. The captain asked them all to stand in a ring. He then placed the box in the midst, and requested the king to alight from his seat, that he might be dressed in his new clothes. But the king only answered "By-and-by," and continued to look sullenly at the unopened box. The captain, tired of waiting, opened the box, and took out the queen's dress. The instant the queen saw it, she jumped off the man's shoulders, and the king followed her example. She put on the

22

HOW THE DRESSES WERE LIKED.

cap, and appeared delighted. The dresses were too small both for her and Otu, who was tall and stout; and it was necessary to unrip some of the seams. The clothes were gay, and the crowd around admired the king and queen much when they were dressed in them; but Otu did not care for them, and said that a gun, a knife, or a pair of scissors, would have been of more use. This was not a polite way of receiving a present, but it was a sensible choice to make; indeed, though Otu appeared stupid, he had a good understanding, as you will see hereafter.

Just after the royal pair had been dressed, Mane-mane appeared with some beautiful Tahitian cloth in his hand. He called his friend the captain to him, and dressed him in it. They then went together to the missionaries' house, and found the work going on well. As it was now past noon, the old priest accompanied the captain to the ship to dinner.

On Saturday the house was ready for the women and children, although not yet finished. After dinner the women and children went to the shore in the largest boat. A very great crowd was assembled on the beach, eager to see, what they had never seen before, white women and children. They were all much delighted with their appearance. The king and queen seemed afraid to come near, or to speak to the

SATURDAY NIGHT.

23

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.

HOW THE

CHAPTER IV.

1797, March.

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,