24 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
tion which his cabin afforded. With feelings more easily 
conceived than described, the offer was accepted, and they 
were soon on board the ship which, at the critical moment, 
had been so remarkably brought to their succor. 
“One pleasing incident, akin to that connected with the 
conduct of Vaaji toward the murdered missionaries, occurred 
as they were leaving. As the vessel was passing near the 
part of the island at which they had resided before the out- 
break of the war, a man named Ata, and a chief whose name 
is not given, came off with a few coconuts as a present. The 
chief was deeply affected on account of their leaving, and 
took farewell of them with many tears. Notwithstanding 
his sorrow at their departure, he fully approved of the step 
they were taking, fearing, no doubt, that if they remained 
they would share the fate of their companions. The mis- 
sionaries also, though satisfied as to the path of duty, were 
much affected at leaving the people in such circumstances. 
The almost total failure of their mission, in as far as appear- 
ances went, was very grievous, though they were comforted 
by the assurance that Christianity would yet triumph on 
Tonga, and the hope that their labors and sufferings might 
be made in a measure subservient to that end. With these 
mingled feelings they bade adieu to the Friendly Islands, 
and followed what they believed to be the leading of Prov- 
idence. 
“They reached New South Wales in safety, about the 
middle of February, and were welcomed there by their breth- 
ren who had fled from Tahiti, and treated with great kind- 
ness by the governor, and Mr. Johnston, the chaplain of the 
colony. One of them, Mr. Shelly, after a short residence 
in the colony, returned to the islands, and joined the Tahitian 
Mission; the others proceeded to England, where they ar- 
rived in the month of September, 1800, after an absence of 
four years.” 
