POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
67 
chiefs^ and people so willing to receive the Missionaries^ 
and so friendly towards them 5 and the latter being now 
settled comfortably in their new sphere of labour^ the 
Dulf sailed for the Friendly Islands on the 26th of March. 
Having landed ten Missionaries at Tongatabu^ in the 
Friendly Islands^ Captain Wilson visited and surveyed 
several of the Marquesan Islands^ and left Mr. Crook a 
Missionary there; he then returned to Tahiti^ and on the 
6 th of July^ the Duff again anchored in Matavai Bay. The 
health of the Missionaries had not been affected by the 
climate. The conduct of the natives had been friendly 
and respectful; and supplies in abundance had been fur¬ 
nished during his absence. While the ship remained at 
Tahiti^ Mr. W. Wilson made the tour of the island; the 
iron^ toolsj and other supplies for the Mission^ were 
landed: the Missionaries^ and their friends on boards hav¬ 
ing spent a month in agreeable intercourse^ now affection¬ 
ately hade each other farewell. Dr. Gilham having inti¬ 
mated to Captain W. his wish to return to England^ was 
taken on boards and the Duff finally sailed from Matavai 
on the 4th of August^ 1797- The Missionaries return¬ 
ing from the ship^ as well as those on shore^ watched her 
course as she slowly receded from their view^ under no 
ordinary sensations. They now felt that they were cut 
off from all but Divine guidance^ protection^ and support^ 
and had parted with those by whose counsels and pre¬ 
sence they had been assisted in entering upon their 
labours^ but whom on earth they did not expect to 
meet again. Captain Wilson coasted along the south 
and western shores of Huahine^ and then sailed to 
Tongatahu; where^ after spending twenty days with the 
Missionaries, who appeared comfortably settled, he 
sailed for Canton, where he received a cargo, with 
