Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Polynesian Researches

CHAP. I

CHAP. I

FROM PAGE 1 TO PAGE 22.

Early voyages to the Pacific—Interest in behalf of the people excited by the published accounts—Formation of the Missionary Society—Sailing of the Duff—Arrival off Tahiti—Notice of a Roman Catholic mission—Opinion of Captain Cook on the formation of a settlement in Tahiti—Cession of Matavai—Departure of the Duff—Influence of the mechanic arts on the minds of the people—Comparative estimate of iron and gold—Difficulties attending the acquisition of an unwritten language—Methods adopted by the missionaries—Propensity to theft among the natives—Efforts to prevent human sacrifices and infant murder—Resolution of the missionaries relative to the use of fire-arms.