‘I attended,’ says Beechey, ’their church on this day, and found the service well conducted; the prayers were read by Adams, and the lessons by Buffet, the service being preceded by hymns.  The greatest devotion was apparent in every individual; and in the children there was a seriousness unknown in the younger part of our communities at home.  In the course of the Litany, they prayed for their sovereign and all the royal family, with much apparent loyalty and sincerity.  Some family prayers, which were thought appropriate to their own particular case, were added to the usual service; and Adams, fearful of leaving out any essential part, read in addition all those prayers which are intended only as substitutes for others.  A sermon followed, which was very well delivered by Buffet; and lest any part of it should be forgotten or escape attention, it was read three times.  The whole concluded with hymns, which were first sung by the grown people, and afterwards by the children.  The service thus performed was very long; but the neat and cleanly appearance of the congregation, the devotion that animated every countenance, and the innocence and simplicity of the little children, prevented the attendance from becoming wearisome.  In about half an hour afterwards we again assembled to prayers, and at sunset service was repeated; so that, with their morning and evening prayers, they may be said to have church five times on a Sunday.’

Perhaps it will be thought by some that they carry their seriousness too far, and that the younger people are not allowed a sufficient quantity of recreation.  The exercise and amusement of dancing, once so much resorted to in most of the islands of the Pacific, is here almost excluded.  With great difficulty and much entreaty, the visitors prevailed on three grown-up ladies to stand up to perform the Otaheitan dance, which they consented to with a reluctance that showed it was done only to oblige them.  It was little more than a shuffling of the feet, sliding past each other, and snapping their fingers.  They did not long continue this diversion, considering it as too great a levity, and only the three beforementioned ladies could be prevailed on to exhibit their skill.  They appeared to have little taste for music either instrumental or vocal.  Adams, when on board the Blossom for two or three days, made no difficulty of joining in the dance and was remarkably cheerful, but on no occasion neglected his usual devotions.  Captain Beechey has no doubt of the sincerity of his piety.  He slept in the same cabin, but would never get into his cot until the captain was in bed, and supposed to be asleep, when, in a retired corner of the cabin, he fell on his knees and performed his devotions; and he was always up first in the morning for the same purpose.