. As soon as
good-breeding would permit, we took leave.
    The hypocrisy in matters of religion, so apparent in all Polynesian
converts, is most injudiciously nourished in Tahiti, by a zealous and, in many
cases, a coercive superintendence over their spiritual well-being. But it is
only manifested with respect to the common people, their superiors being
exempted.
    On Sunday mornings, when the prospect is rather small for a full house in
the minor churches, a parcel of fellows are actually sent out with ratans into
the highways and byways as whippers-in of the congregation. This is a sober
fact.22
    These worthies constitute a religious police; and you always know them by
the great white diapers they wear. On week days, they are quite as busy as on
Sundays; to the great terror of the inhabitants, going all over the island, and
spying out the wickedness thereof.
    Moreover, they are the collectors of fines - levied generally in grass mats
- for obstinate non-attendance upon divine worship, and other offences amenable
to the ecclesiastical judicature of the missionaries.
    Old Bob called these fellows kannakippers, a corruption, I fancy, of our
word constable.
    He bore them a bitter grudge; and one day, drawing near home, and learning
that two of them were just then making a domiciliary visit at his house, he ran
behind a bush; and as they came forth, two green bread-fruit from a hand unseen
took them each between the shoulders. The sailors in the Calabooza were
witnesses to this, as well as several natives; who, when the intruders were out
of sight, applauded Captain Bob's spirit in no measured terms; the ladies
present vehemently joining in. Indeed, the kannakippers have no greater enemies
than the latter. And no wonder: the impertinent varlets, popping into their
houses at all hours, are forever prying into their peccadilloes.
    Kooloo, who at times was patriotic and pensive, and mourned the evils under
which his country was groaning, frequently inveighed against the statute which
thus authorised an utter stranger to interfere with domestic arrangements. He
himself - quite a ladies' man - had often been annoyed thereby. He considered
the kannakippers a bore.
    Besides their confounded inquisitiveness, they add insult to injury, by
making a point of dining out every day at some hut within the limits of their
jurisdiction. As for the gentleman of the house, his meek endurance of these
things is amazing. But, good easy man, there is nothing for him but to be as
hospitable as possible.
    These gentry are indefatigable. At the
