no individual came near the ship. The reason afterward assigned was, that it was the Sabbath. On Monday the intercourse was resumed again as briskly as before.

The other testimony is that of Captain Gambier, of the British ship Dauntless. In reference to the observance of the Sabbath among the young, he says, "The silence, the order preserved, the devotion and attention paid to the subject, surprised and pleased me beyond measure. Children are seen bringing their aged parents to the church, that they may partake of the pleasure they derive from the explanation of the Bible." This testimony of one who acknowledges that "he had never felt any interest in the labors of missionaries, and was not only not prepossessed in favor of them, but in a measure suspicious of their reports," is certainly a strong one.

Notwithstanding the unsuccessful efforts of Mr. Gyles, the Directors of the Missionary Society were not discouraged in their endeavors to advance the temporal prosperity of the natives. They considered the promotion of industry and civil improvement as important objects, and in order to accomplish them, two artisans, Messrs. Blossom and Armitage, were sent to the South Seas, in 1821. The former was a carpenter, and the latter a native of Manchester, who had been overseer of an extensive cotton manufactory. His object was to teach the natives to spin and weave the cotton raised in their gardens. It has been mentioned that the cotton plant is indigenous

in most of the Islands, and it was known that with but little attention it might be cultivated to almost any extent. As cotton cloth was an article in great demand, it was supposed that the manufacture of it might be successfully introduced. In September,

1821, Messrs. Armitage and Blossom reached Tahiti. Finding that Eimeo furnished greater facilities than Tahiti for their operations, they soon afterwards established a factory at that island. Like every new undertaking, the factory had to contend with great difficulties, arising principally from the indolence of the natives and their impatience of control. These obstacles, however, were at length overcome, and the natives became fully convinced that they could manufacture cloth, and were willing to make the necessary exertions. Mr. Armitage taught them to card the cotton, and Mrs. A. instructed them in spinning. Their first attempts, as might have been expected, were exceedingly awkward, but when a piece of cloth fifty yards in length was completed, the natives considered themselves repaid for all their labor. The females soon learned to spin yarn, and some of the boys were taught to make very good cloth. Mr. Armitage was also able to dye the cloth, and thus to increase its value by furnishing different patterns and colors. Reading lessons and texts of Scripture were affixed to the walls, and to different parts of the factory, so that while the hands were employed in spinning or weaving, the mind and heart might also be improved. The native carpenters have learned

to make lathes, looms, and spinning-wheels, which, though rude, are found very useful. The experiment has already succeeded beyond what was anticipated, and it is believed that the efforts made to introduce the wearing of cloth will be highly advantageous to the natives.

CHAPTER IX.

SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL IN THE GEORGIAN ISLANDS
GENERAL RESULTS.

Introduction of the Gospel into Tabuaemanu-Notice of Pomare II.Coronation of Pomare III.-South Sea Academy-Death of the young King-His successor-Testimony of Mr. Stewart and of Captain Waldegrave-Civil war-Restoration of Peace-Spirit of inquiry-Revival of religion-Departure of Mr. Nott-Letter from the Missionaries-Attempts to introduce the Catholic religion at Tahiti Testimony of Captain Hervey.

WHILE the incidents which have been narrated in the preceding Chapter were occurring at Tahiti and Eimeo, events equally interesting were taking place at Tabuaemanu, another of the Georgian Islands. The inhabitants of this island, having heard that the people of Huahine had destroyed their idols and become worshippers of Jehovah, resolved that they would do the same. They understood, however, the doctrines and spirit of Christianity very imperfectly, and but little was known of their moral condition until the year 1818, when Mr. Davies, while on a voyage to Tahiti, was driven out of his course and obliged to take shelter at Tabuaemanu. During his

stay of nine weeks on the island, Mr. Davies made unwearied exertions to communicate to the natives a knowledge of the way of salvation, and on his departure appointed two of the best informed among them to act as teachers to the rest. In 1819, nearly all the inhabitants of this island, with their chief, removed to Huahine for the purpose of receiving religious instruction. With a few exceptions they were regular in their attendance on divine worship, and at the schools, and a number of them became candidates for baptism. In the following year they returned to their own island; but the impressions which had been made on their minds during their residence at Huahine were not effaced, and their subsequent conduct proved that they had not heard the Gospel in vain.

Mr. Barff visited this island in 1822, and found the inhabitants living together in great harmony, and diligently endeavoring to improve in knowledge. Those who had been received while at Huahine, as candidates for baptism, continued to act consistently with their profession, and frequently met together to exhort each other to love and good works. During his stay at Tabuaemanu, Mr. Barff baptized fifty-four adults, and thirty children. Two native teachers from the church at Huahine were appointed to labor among them, and on the departure of Mr. Barff nearly all the inhabitants placed themselves under their instruction. In 1823, a church of thirty-one members was formed at this station, to which thirty-five more were added in 1825. In 1833, Mr. Barff found the