POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
49 
beach good, and fresh water convenient. Situated some 
degrees from the southern tropic, the climate is brac¬ 
ing and salubrious, the soil is fertile, and while it nou¬ 
rishes many of the valuable roots and fruits of the inter- 
tropical regions, is probably not less adapted to the 
more useful productions of temperate climes. Mr. 
Davies estimates the population at about two thousand. 
Vancouver supposed that Rapa contained not less than 
fifteen hundred, merely from those he saw around his ship. 
In their language, complexion, general character, super¬ 
stitions, and employments, they resemble the inhabitants 
of the other islands of the Pacific, though less civilized 
in their manners, more rude in their arts, and possessed 
of fewer comforts, than most of their northern neigh¬ 
bours were, when first discovered. Their intercourse 
with Tahiti will not only increase their knowledge, and 
their sources of temporal enjoyment, but it is to be hoped 
will be the means of introducing Christianity among 
them, and raising them to the participation of its 
spiritual blessings."' 
A fresh avenue is opened for European commerce, and 
valuable information is likely to result from the visit of 
the teachers to this solitary abode. The English Mis¬ 
sionary from Tahiti was the first foreigner that ever 
landed on their coasts; but many years before his arrival, 
an inhabitant of some other island, the only survivor of the 
party with whom he sailed from his native shores, had been 
by tempestuous weather drifted to the island, and was found 
there by the native teachers, who first went from Tahiti. 
His name was Mapuagua, and that of his country Manga- 
neva, which he stated was much larger than Rapa, and 
situated in a south-easterly direction. The people he 
described as numerous, and much tataued ; the 
H 
