His CAPTORS. 35 



Sign-post of Christianity. Night Tack. 



It is about seven miles long, one and a half 

 or two wide, and lies in 152 west longitude, 

 and 22 45' south latitude ; about five hundred 

 miles southwest from Tahiti. It is properly, 

 perhaps, one of the Society Island group, being 

 a mere pile of corallite and wave- washed coral 

 sand. "We came in sight of it on Tuesday 

 afternoon, a blue hummock on the bosom of 

 the ocean, and ran on until we discovered, to 

 our great delight, what could not be mistaken 

 for a meeting-house and a white flag flying on 

 a post near by, to indicate the friendliness of 

 the natives, and induce us to stop for trade. 



The sea broke so high upon the northeast 

 and southwest points of the island, and, indeed, 

 all along shore, that our captain did not deem 

 it prudent to attempt landing that night. We 

 therefore stood off until twelve o'clock midnight, 

 and then tacking, were up with it again by ten 

 o'clock next morning, on the leeward side. 



The island presented a beautiful appearance, 

 being thickly wooded to the water's edge, and 

 elevated in some parts into gentle hills, crowned 

 with all the various and luxuriant growth of 

 the tropics. Canoes soon launched out through 

 the boisterous surf, and came alongside of us, 



