MR. NOBBS'S RETURN FROM GAMBIER. 183 
off several hundreds, The natives are rather a 
good specimen of the Koauka race tractable, 
hard-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 M^ 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 
