410 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
Society at home, to relieve them from every distressing 
anxiety as to their successors, and to afford every aid 
in the prosecution of their important and extending 
work. To us it was a matter of gratitude and satis¬ 
faction. With some who had now arrived, we had 
parted nearly two years before in our native land; 
others we had left among strangers on a foreign shore; 
but we were now, in the providence of God, brought 
together under circumstances peculiarly encouraging; 
and not only permitted to enjoy each others’ society, 
but to combine our energies for the advancement of that 
cause to which our lives were devoted. 
The arrival of so large a reinforcement enabled the 
Missionaries to make arrangements for re-occupying 
their original station in Tahiti, and establishing a Mis¬ 
sion in the Society, or, as they are usually termed, when 
spoken of in connexion with Tahiti and Eimeo, the 
Leeward Islands. It was, however, thought desirable 
that no division of their numbers should take place 
until the vessel, which had been commenced building 
soon after the return from Port Jackson, should be 
finished, and the works prepared for the press were 
printed. 
As soon as these objects were accomplished, we pre¬ 
pared to remove to the island of Huahine, the most 
windward of the group properly called the Society 
Islands. This name was given to the cluster (which 
includes Sir Charles Sander’s Island, Huahine, Raiatea, 
Tahaa, Borabora, Maupiti or Maurua, Tubai, and the 
small islets surrounding them,) by Captain Cook, in 
honour of the Royal Society, at whose recommenda¬ 
tion the voyages to the South Seas, which led to their 
discovery, were undertaken. 
