In 1811, several of them, however, did return ; but, for the present, they took up their residence in Eimeo, as the continuance of peace in Otaheite was somewhat doubtful. Soon after their arrival, Pomare the king, who used formerly to show a strong aversion to religious instruction, publicly renounced idolatry, and made a profession of Christianity. With him this does not ap pear to have arisen from political motives; but from the firm conviction of his understanding, and the deep im pression which divine truth had made on his heart. The example of Pomare, in embracing Christianity, produc ed, as might be expected, a powerful sensation among his countrymen. Instructions which had lain dormant, and convictions which had been stifled for years, now appeared to revive. Alany of the people began to in quire for themselves; the congregations of the mission aries, which had hitherto been extremely small, rapidly increased ; and great numbers publicly renounced the religion of their ancestors. Idolatry was at length com pletely abolished, both in Otaheite and Eimeo. The gods were destroyed, the morals demolished, the Arreoy Society dissolved, human sacrifices, and the murder of infants, abolished. Instead of a multitude of idols, mo rals, and altars, there were now Christian churches in every district; except here and there a heap of stones, scarce a vestige of the old religion was to be seen. The Sabbath was observed with singular strictness; family worship was established in almost every house, and se cret prayer was the practice of almost every individual, There was at the same time a material improvement in the moral conduct of the people ; the condition of the female sex was considerably ameliorated ; the popula tion of the islands, which had previously been diminish ing with prodigious rapidity, promised soon to increase, as, in consequence of the abolition of infanticide and other criminal practices, there was already a visible dif ference in the number of children. This extraordinary revolution was not even confined to Otaheite and Eimeo; it extended, in a short time, to the neighbouring islands, Tetaroa, Tapua-Manu, Raiatea, Iluaheinc, Taha, Bora bora, and Marna ; in all of which idolatry was abolished, and Christianity became the professed religion. Besides
instructing the natives in the principles of Christianity, the missionaries taught them to read and write their own language. In this attempt, they formerly met with little encouragement ; now, their exertions were crowned with extraordinary success. In the different islands, it was supposed there were upwards of six thousand per sons who were able to read more or less perfectly. Po mare even issued orders that school-houses should be erected in every district of Otaheite and Eimeo, and that the best instructed of the natives should be employed in teaching others; so that these islands now possess some thing like an establishment of parochial schools. The art of printing has been introduced, and the press is now in active operation in these islands. The gospel of Lukc, when printed, was sold for three gallons of cocoa-nut-oil per copy ; and though the impression consisted of 3000 copies, yet several thousands of the natives were sadly disappointed that no more were to be had. Had there been 10,000 copies, it was supposed the whole might have been sold in ten days. The plan of selling the books they printed was adopted by the missionaries in preference to distributing them gratis, with the view of promoting industry among the natives.
In 1814, the Church Missionary Society formed an establishment on New Zealand, with the view of intro ducing the arts of civilization and the light of Christia nity among the inhabitants. Hitherto the missionary settlers have been able to effect little; yet their pros pects, on the whole, are highly encouraging.
Such is a general sketch of the principal missions established by Protestants in different parts of the hea then world. Many others we have been obliged to pass