POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
25 
service was held in a language unintelligible to them. I 
could not, however, but indulge the hope that the time 
was not distant, when, through the influence of the schools 
already established, and the general instructions given by 
the Missionaries ; my brethren would have the pleasure 
of preaching, on every returning Sabbath, the unsearch¬ 
able riches of Christ, to numerous assemblies of attentive 
Christian hearers. The circumstance of its being exactly 
two years, this Sabbath day, since Mr. Marsden, who 
visited New Zealand in 1814—1815, for the purpose of 
establishing a Christian Mission among the people, 
preached, not far from this spot, the first sermon that 
was ever delivered in New Zealand, added to the feelings 
of interest connected with the engagements of the day. 
Circumstances detaining us about a week in the Bay of 
Islands, afforded me the means of becoming more fully 
acquainted with the Missionaries, making excursions to 
different parts of the adjacent country, and witnessing 
many of the singular manners and customs of the people. 
I visited, in company with the captain of our ship, and 
Mr. Hall, one or two of the forests which produce the 
New Zealand pine, recently discovered to be so valuable 
as spars for vessels. 
In one of these excursions, shortly after leaving the 
Bay of Islands, we reached Kowakowa, where Mr. Hall 
proposed to land. As we approached the shore, no trace 
of inhabitants appeared, but we had scarcely landed when 
we were somewhat surprised by the appearance of Tetoro 
and a number of his people. The chief ran to meet us, 
greeting us in English, with ^^How do you do?” He per¬ 
ceived I was a stranger, and, on hearing my errand 
and destination, he offered me his hand, and saluted me, 
according to the custom of his country, by touching my 
E 
