<7HAP. the affairs of the gorernment, or from the jealousies between the chiefs
April,
1S26.
and the great landholders, the Boo Ilatiras. Their tranquillity besides
may have hitherto depended upon their obscurity, or on the equiilly
defenceless condition of their neighbours with themselves ; but the extension
of navigation has removed the one, and an advancement of
civilization and of power has destroyed the balance of the other.
Eeligious books are distributed among the huts of such of the
natives as are converted, or who are, as they term themselves,missi-«arces;
but many of the inhabitants are still tooti-ouris or bad characters, an
old expression signifying literally rusty iron, and now indiscriminately
used for a dissenter from the Christian religion and a low character.
These persons are now of no religion, as they have renounced their
former one, and have not embraced that which has been recently introduced.
Ignorance of the language prevented my obtaining any correct
information as to the progress that had been made generally towards
a knowledge of the scriptures by those who were converted; but
ray impression was, and I find by the journals of the officers it was
theirs also, that it was very limited, and but few understood the simplest
parts of it. Many circumstances induced me to believe that they considered
their religious books very much in the same light as they did
their household gods; and in particular their conduct on the occasion of
a disturbance which arose from some false reports at the time of the
robbery on the stores of the ship, when they deposited these books in
the mission, and declared themselves to be indifferent about their lives
and property, so long as the sacred volume, which could be replaced at
any time for a bamboo of oil, was in safetv. In general those who were
missi-narees had a proper respect for the book, but associating witli it
the suppression of their amusements, their dances, singing, and music,
they read it with much less good will than if a system had been introduced
which would have tempered religion with cheerfulness, and have
instilled happiness into society.
The Otaheitans, passionately fond of recreation, require more relaxation
than other people; and though it might not have been possible
at once to clear the dances from the immoralities attending them, still
it would have been good policy to sanction these diversions under CHAP.
certain restrictions, until laws which were more important began
to sit easy on the shoulders of the people. Without amusements, April,
and excessively indolent, they now seek enjoyment in idleness and
sensuality, and too much pains cannot be bestowed to arouse them from
their apathy, and to induce them to emerge from their general state
of indifference to those occupations which are most essential to their
welfare. Looking only to the past, they at present seem to consider
that they can proceed in the same easy manner they have hitherto
done; forgetting that their wants, formerly gratified by the natural
produce of the earth, have lately been supplied by foreign commodities,
which, by indulgence, have become essential to their comfort; and that
as their wants increase, as in all probability they will, they will find
themselves at a loss to meet the expenses of the purchase; and that being
dependant upon the casual arrival of merchant vessels, they are liable
to he deprived of them suddenly by the occurrence of a war or of some
other contingency, at a period perhaps when by disuse they will not have
the power of falling back upon those which have been discontinued.
The country is not deficient in productions adapted to commerce.
The sugar-cane grows so luxuriantly that from two small enclosures five
tons of white sugar are annually manufactured under the superintendence
of an Englishman ; cotton has been found to succeed very well; arrowroot
of good quality is plentiful; they have some sandal-wood, and other
ornamental woods suitable for furniture, and several dyes. Besides these,
coffee and other grain might no doubt be grown, and they might saltdown
meat, which, with other articles I have not mentioned, would constitute
a trade quite sufficient to procure for the inhabitants the luxuries which
are in a gradual course of introduction, and to make it desirable for
merchant vessels to touch at the island. It is not from the poverty of
the island, therefore, from which they are likely to feel inconvenience,
but from their neglect to avail themselves of its capabilities, and employ
its productions to advantage.
It seemed as if the people never had these things revealed to
them, or had sunk into an apathy, and were discouraged at finding
each year burthened with new restrictions upon their liberties and enjoy-
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