414 THREE CENTURIES' PERSPECTIVES
Xeroxing. "The Moral State of Tahiti" represents Darwin's first
public appearance in print, and biographers record this article as
his first publication—even though the writing is mostly FitzRoy's,
with long excerpts from Darwin's diaries patched in and properly
acknowledged.)
The great Russian explorer Otto von Kotzebue had poured fuel
on an old and worldwide dispute by arguing that Christian mission-
aries had perpetrated far more harm than good in destroying native
cultures (while often cynically fronting for colonial power) under
the guise of "improvement." FitzRoy and Darwin wrote their article
to attack Kotzebue and to defend the good work of English mission-
aries in Tahiti and New Zealand.
The two shipmates began by noting with sorrow the strong anti-
missionary sentiments that they had encountered when the Beagle
called at Cape Town:
A very short stay at the Cape of Good Hope is sufficient to convince even a
passing stranger, that a strong feeling against the Missionaries in South
Africa is there very prevalent. From what cause a feeling so much to be
lamented has arisen, is probably well known to residents at the Cape. We
can only notice the fact: and feel sorrow.
Following a general defense of missionary activity, FitzRoy and
Darwin move to specific cases of their own prior observation, partic-
ularly to the improved "moral state" of Tahiti:
Quitting opinions ... it may be desirable to see what has been doing at
Otaheite (now called Tahiti) and at New Zealand, towards reclaiming the
"barbarians."... The Beagle passed a part of last November at Otaheite or
Tahiti. A more orderly, quiet, inoffensive community I have not seen in any
other part of the world. Every one of the Tahitians appeared anxious to
oblige, and naturally good tempered and cheerful. They showed great
respect for, and a thorough good will towards, the missionaries;... and
most deserving of such a feeling did those persons appear to be.FitzRoy and Darwin were, obviously, attentive to a possible
counterargument—that the Tahitians have always been so decent,
and that missionary activity had been irrelevant to their good quali-
ties by European taste. The article is largely an argument against
this interpretation and a defense for direct and substantial "im-
provement" by missionaries. Darwin, in particular, presents two ar-