6 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
worship, when we heard the report of a signal-gun. The 
sound excited a train of feelings, which can be under-^ 
stood only by those who have been placed in similar 
circumstances. It was a report announcing the arrival 
of that moment which was to separate, perhaps 
for ever, from home and all its endearments, and rend 
asunder every band which friendship and affection had 
entwined around the heart. The report we had heard 
might have proceeded from some other vessel ; we 
hastened, therefore, to the windows, which commanded 
an extensive view of the sea, and, looking towards 
the anchorage, saw the small cloud of smoke rising 
up among the rigging, and the signal for sailing flying 
from the mast of our vessel. Instead of proceeding 
to the place of worship, we directed our steps towards 
the sea shore ^ but, before we left our dwelling, we united 
in prayer with our friends, and were by them affec¬ 
tionately committed to the guardian care of Him, in 
obedience to whose sacred injunction, Go, teach all 
nations,” we were about to embark; and on whose 
protection and blessing we alone depended for safety 
and success. A number of kind friends attended us 
to the beach, where, after waiting a few moments, we 
bade them farewell, and then raised the last foot 
from that earth which was our native soil, over which 
we had often trod under all the varied emotions of our 
earliest and maturer years, but which we never expected 
to tread again. 
Among those who had walked with us to the shore, 
several dear brethren, students in the Missionary semi¬ 
nary at Gosport, anxious to defer, as long as possible, 
the final parting, took their seats beside us in the 
boat, and accompanied us to the ship. The wind was 
