staggering professors.

There is yet another sect, or what is called a sect--no doubt
improperly--that of the Whistlers. Duncan Cameron, so clear in
favour of the Mormons, was no less loud in condemnation of the
Whistlers. Yet I do not know; I still fancy there is some
connection, perhaps fortuitous, probably disavowed. Here at least
are some doings in the house of an Israelite clergyman (or prophet)
in the island of Anaa, of which I am equally sure that Duncan would
disclaim and the Whistlers hail them for an imitation of their own.
My informant, a Tahitian and a Catholic, occupied one part of the
house; the prophet and his family lived in the other. Night after
night the Mormons, in the one end, held their evening sacrifice of
song; night after night, in the other, the wife of the Tahitian lay
awake and listened to their singing with amazement. At length she
could contain herself no longer, woke her husband, and asked him
what he heard. 'I hear several persons singing hymns,' said he.
'Yes,' she returned, 'but listen again! Do you not hear something
supernatural?' His attention thus directed, he was aware of a
strange buzzing voice--and yet he declared it was beautiful--which
justly accompanied the singers. The next day he made inquiries.
'It is a spirit,' said the prophet, with entire simplicity, 'which
has lately made a practice of joining us at family worship.' It
did not appear the thing was visible, and like other spirits raised
nearer home in these degenerate days, it was rudely ignorant, at
first could only buzz, and had only learned of late to bear a part
correctly in the music.

The performances of the Whistlers are more business-like. Their
meetings are held publicly with open doors, all being 'cordially