MR. NOBBS'S RETURN FROM GAMBIER. 183 
off several hundreds. The natives are rather a 
food specimen of the Koauka race — tractable, 
ard- working, and expert boatmen. They were 
all well dressed; and clothes, cutlery, tobacco, 
and soap were sought after, and readily taken in 
exchange for supplies. The king having ex- 
pressed a desire to see the ship, I received him 
with manned yards, and a salute, at which he 
was delighted ; but no flag was hoisted, not being 
aware that the French Protectorate is either 
claimed or acknowledged. His Majesty was 
accompanied by the priests, and is a fine-looking 
man, above the middle age, and was dressed in 
plain European costume. He had a mild, in- 
telligent countenance.' ' 
After this digression, the reader will be glad 
to return to the history of Mr. Nobbs. In about 
nine months after he had been at the Gambier 
Islands, the people of Pitcairn recalled him, with 
the other Europeans ; the request for their return 
being accompanied by an offer of payment of all 
their expenses ; and they returned accordingly, 
without further delay. 
Mr. Nobbs's active life in the Chilian service 
has been briefly noticed. On the 9th of Novem- 
ber, 1839, when engaged in the quiet and seden- 
tary, but scarcely less laborious, duty of a pastor 
and teacher at Pitcairn, with his youthful pupils 
around him, he had the satisfaction of receiving, 
as a visitor to the island, General Friere, ex-pre- 
sident of Chili, who had known him eighteen 
years before. What a contrast to those former 
scenes is afforded by the picture presented by 
