268 VOYAGE TO THE 



C ?x P " S ^ e ' anc ^ ^y a Dower anchor dropped at the edge of 

 *— -v*' a coral reef on the other. This reef forms one side 

 ^1826.' °f the harbour ; which, though small, possesses se- 

 veral advantages over the more spacious one of Pa- 

 piete generally resorted to, and of which the superior 

 freshness and salubrity of its atmosphere are not the 

 most inconsiderable. 



Previous to entering upon a relation of our pro- 

 ceedings with the natives, it must be understood 

 that the short time we remained, and our various 

 occupations necessarily rendered our intercourse 

 with them very limited compared with that of 

 many of our predecessors. Still, it is hoped, the 

 remarks which I shall offer will be sufficient to 

 present a candid and faithful picture of the exist- 

 ing state of society in the island ; a feature by no 

 means unimportant in the history of the country, 

 which is otherwise complete. To exceed this, by 

 dwelling upon the beauties of the scenery, the en- 

 gaging manners of the inhabitants, their mythology, 

 superstitions, and legends, &c. would be only to re- 

 capitulate what has been detailed in the interesting 

 voyages of Wallis, Cook, Vancouver, Wilson, Turn- 

 bull, and others, and very recently by Mr. Ellis, in 

 his valuable work entitled " Polynesian Researches," 

 compiled after ten years' residence in the Pacific, and 

 from the journals of other missionary gentlemen in 

 those parts. In this useful work Mr. Ellis has traced 

 the history of some of the islands through all their 

 various stages ; he has explained the origin of 

 many of their barbarous customs, has elucidated 

 many hitherto obscure points, and has shown the 

 difficulties which opposed themselves to the intro- 

 duction of Christianity ; the hardships, dangers, and 



