POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
153 
in successive surges over the coral reefs that surround 
the island^ kept up, through the night, a hollow and 
heavy sound, resembling that produced by the rumbling 
of carriages in a vast city, heard at a distance in the 
stillness of evening. The wall, or outside of the 
dwelling, was composed only of large sticks, or poles, 
placed perpendicularly from the floor to the roof, two 
or three inches apart, so that we could see the ocean on 
one side, and the dark outline of the inland mountains 
on the other; while looking up through the roof, we 
could easily discern the stars twinkling in a blue and 
cloudless sky. We did not, however, feel the air too 
cool; and our lodging was quite as good as that in which 
the Missionaries to the Sandwich Islands passed their 
first night in Honoruru; and much better than Mr. 
Marsden, and his companion, procured in New Zealand. 
The first night he passed on shore, he slept on the 
earthern floor, by the side of a warrior, the murderer of 
the crew of the Boyd, and a cannibal; and the spot on 
which he lay was encircled by native spears fixed in 
the ground. 
In the morning we arose somewhat refreshed; and, in 
the course of the day, landed our goods from the vessel. 
A house had been prepared, by the king, for the 
expected Missionaries; but, as it was damp, and our 
residence at Papetoai was not likely to be permanent, 
we took up our abode in a dwelling already occupied in 
part by Mr. Crook and his family. 
I was astonished at the accounts I now received, of the 
change that had taken place among the people. The 
profession of Christianity was general, many had learned 
to read, and were teaching others; all were regular in 
their exercises of devotion; and, in many of the small 
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