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Polynesian Researches

CONTENTS OF VOL. III

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CONTENTS OF VOL. III

CHAP. I

FROM PAGE 1 TO PAGE 33.

Establishment of new stations at Mahapu and Maeva—Appearance of the lake and surrounding scenery—Increased desire for books—Applications from the blind—Account of Hiro an idolatrous priest—Methods of distributing books—Dangerous voyages—Motives influencing to desire the scriptures—Character of the translation—Cause of delay in baptizing native converts—General view of the ordinance—Baptism of the king—Preparatory instructions—First baptism in Huahine—Mode of applying the water—Introduction of Christian names—Baptism of infants—Views and feelings of the parents.

CHAP. II

FROM PAGE 34 TO PAGE 52.

Interesting state of the people—Extensive prevalence of a severe epidemic—Former diseases in the islands comparatively few and mild—Priests the general physicians—Native practice of physic—Its intimate connexion with sorcery—Gods of the healing art—The tuabu, or broken—back—Insanity—Native warm bath—Oculists—Surgery—Setting a broken neck or back—The operation of trepan—Native remedies superseded by European medicine—Need of a more abundant supply—Former cruelty towards the sick—Parricide—Present treatment of invalids—Death of Messrs. Tessier and Bicknell—Dying charge to the people—Missionary responsibility.

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CHAP. III

FROM PAGE 53 TO PAGE 92.

General view of a Christian church—Uniformity of procedure in the different stations—Instructions from England—Preparatory teaching—Distinct nature of a Christian church—Qualifications and duties of communicants—The sacrament of the Lord's Super—Formation of the first church of Christ in the Leeward Islands—Administration of the ordinance—Substitute for bread—Order of the service—Character, experience, and peculiarities of the communicants—Buaiti—Manner of admitting church members—Regard to the declarations of scripture—Instances of the power of conscience—Appointment of deacons—Improvement in parental discipline—Great attention to religion.

CHAP. IV

FROM PAGE 93 TO PAGE 118.

Government of the South Sea Islands monarchical and arbitrary—Intimately connected with idolatry—Different ranks in society—Slavery—The proprietors of land—The regal family—Sovereignty hereditary—Abdication of the father in favour of the son—Distinctions of royalty—Modes of travelling—Sacredness of the king's person—Homage of the people—Singular ceremonies attending the inauguration of the king—Language of the Tahitian court—The royal residences—Dress, &c.—Sources of revenue—Tenure of land—Division of the country—National councils—Forfeiture of possessions.

CHAP. V

FROM PAGE 119 TO PAGE 145.

Power of the chiefs and proprietors of land—Banishment and confiscation—The king's messenger—The niau, an emblem of authority—Ancient usages in reference to crime, &c.—Fatal effects of jealousy—Seizure of property—Punishment of theft—Public works—Supplies for the king—Despotic rapacity—Extortion of the king's servants—Unorganized state of civil polity—Desire a code of Christian laws—Advice and conduct of the page v Missionaries—Preparation of the laws—Public enactment by the king in a national assembly at Tahiti—Capital punishments—Manner of conducting public trials—Establishment of laws in Raiatea—Preparation of those for Huahine.

CHAP. VI

FROM PAGE 146 TO PAGE 174.

Pomare's proposed restrictions on barter rejected by the chiefs of the Leeward Islands—Voyage to Eimeo—Departure for Tahiti—Danger during the night—Arrival at Burder's Point—State of the settlement—Papeete—Mount Hope—Interview with the king—The laws revised—Approved by the queen—Arrival of the Hope from England—Influence of letters, &c.—Return to Eimeo—Embarkation for the Leeward Islands—A night at sea—Appearance of the heavens—Astronomy of the natives—Names of the stars—The Twins—Tradition of their origin—Arrival in Huahine.

CHAP. VII

FROM PAGE 175 TO PAGE 214.

Promulgation of the new code of laws in Huahine—Literal translation of the laws on Murder—Theft—Trespass—Stolen property—Lost property—Barter—Sabbath-breaking—Rebellion—Bigamy, &c.—Divorce, &c.—Marriage—False accusation—Drunkenness—Dogs—Pigs—Conspiracy—Confessions—Revenue for the king and chiefs—Tatauing—Voyaging—Judges and magistrates—Regulations for judges, and trial by jury—Messengers or peace-officers—Manner of conducting public trials—Character of the Huahinean code—Reasons for dissuading from capital punishments—Omission of oaths—Remarks on the different enactments—Subsequent amendments and enactments relative to the fisheries—Land-marks—Land rendered freehold property—First Tahitian parliament—Regulations relating to seamen deserting their vessels—Publicity of trials—Beneficial effects of the laws.

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CHAP. VIII

FROM PAGE 215 TO PAGE 247.

Visit from the Windward Islands—Opposition to the moral restraints of Christianity—Tatauing prohibited by the chiefs—Revival of the practice—Trial and penalty of the offenders—Rebellion against the laws and government—Public assembly—Address of Taua—Departure of the chiefs and people from the encampment of the king's son—Singularity of their dress and appearance—Interview between the rival parties—Return of Hautia and the captives—Arrival of the deputation at Tahiti—Account of Taaroarii—Encouraging circumstances connected with his early life—His marriage—Profligate associates—Effects of bad example—Disorderly conduct—His illness—Attention of the chiefs and people—Visits to his encampment—Last interview—Death of Taaroarii—Funeral procession—Impressive circumstances connected with his decease and interment—His monument and epitaph—Notice of his father—His widow and daughter—Institution of Christian burial—Dying expressions of native converts.

CHAP. IX

FROM PAGE 248 TO PAGE 275.

Arrival of the deputation in Huahine—Death of Pomare—Notice of his ancestry—Description of his person—His mental character and habits—Perseverance and proficiency in writing—His letter to England, &c.—Facsimile of his hand-writing—Translation of his letter on the art of drawing—Estimation in which he was held by the people—Pomare the first convert to Christianity—His commendable endeavours to promote its extension—Declension during the latter part of his life—His friendship to the Missionaries uniform—His aid important—Circumstances connected with his death—Accession of his son Pomare III.—Coronation of the infant king—Encouraging progress in learning—Early death—Extensive use of letters among the islanders—Writing on plantain-leaves—Value of writing-paper—South Sea Academy—Trials peculiar to Mission families among uncivilized nations—Advantages of sending Missionary children to civilized countries.

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CHAP. X

FROM PAGE 276 TO PAGE 297.

Voyage to Borabora—Appearance of the settlement—Description of the island—Geology—Opening of the new place of worship—Visit of the Dauntless—Arrival of the Mermaid—Designation of native Missionaries—Voyage to the Sandwich Islands—Interview between the prince of Tahaa and the princess of Tahiti—Marriage of Pomare and Aimata—Dress of the parties and appearance of the attendants—Christian marriage—Advantageous results—Female occupations—Embarkation for England—Visit to Fare—Improvement of the settlement—Visit to Rurutu and Raivavai—Final departure from the South Sea Islands.

CHAP. XI

FROM PAGE 298 TO PAGE 328.

Efforts of the natives to propagate Christianity—Amount of early contributions—Effect of annual meetings—Exertions of the first converts—Description of the Paumotus, or Dangerous Archipelago—Visits of the people to Tahiti—Their reception of Christianity—The number and situation of the Marquesas—Their appearance and productions—Population, dress, and figure of the native—Tatauing—Disposition—Government—War and cannibalism—Attempts to introduce Christianity among their inhabitants—Pitcairn's Island—Descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty—Waihu or Easter Island—Cape Horn—Juan Fernandez—Alexander Selkirk.

CHAP. XII

FROM PAGE 329 TO PAGE 362.

South-western borders of Polynesia—New Holland—Tempest off the coast—Observations on the aborigines—New Zealand—Situation—Soil—Productions—Climate—Forest scenery—Native flax—Population—Savage dispositions of the people—Cannibalism—Government—Slavery—in New Zealand—in Rio Janeiro—Cruel treatment of New Zealand slaves—Superstitions—Instance of parental tenderness—Occurrences at New Zealand—Tatauing—Sham fighting and war dances—Influence of reports from Tahiti—Prospects of the Mission.

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CHAP. XIII

FROM PAGE 363 TO PAGE 406.

Situation, extent, and productions of Rapa—Singularity of its structure—Appearance of the inhabitants—Violent proceedings on board—Remarkable interposition of Providence—Visit of some natives to Tahiti—Introduction of Christianity into Rapa—Raivavai—Accounts of its inhabitants—Visit of Capt. Henry—Establishment of a native mission—Fatal ravages of a contagious disease—Tubuai—Notice of the mutineers of the Bounty—Origin of the inhabitants—Prevention of war—Establishment of salutary laws—Rimatara—Productions—Circumstances of the inhabitants—Abolition of idolatry—General improvement—Rurutu—Geological character—Population—Auura—His voyage to Maurua—Return to his native island—Destruction of the idols—Visit to Rurutu—Advancement of the people in knowledge, industry, and comfort—Unjust conduct of visitors—Treatment of the shipwrecked by the natives—Progress of Christianity.

LIST OF PLATES FOR VOL III.

Vignette to face the Title.
View of Fa-re Harbour, in Huahine 296