POLYNESfAN RESEARCHES. 
417 
gave a good light, when kept steady, and sheltered from 
the wind. Shortly, however, after sunset this evening, 
the land-breeze came down from the mountains. 
As we had no shelter for our lamp, we found it 
difficult to keep it burning, and at an early hour 
retired to rest, tying our screen down with strips of 
bark, to prevent its being blown aside by the wind. 
Notwithstanding the novelty of our situation, the 
exposure to the air from the mountains, the roaring 
of the heavy surf On the reefs, the inroads of dogs, pigs, 
and natives, with no other shelter than a pile of boxes ; 
we passed a comfortable night, and rose refreshed in 
the morning, thankful for the kind protection we had 
experienced, gratified also to find that no article of 
our property had been stolen, though all was unavoid¬ 
ably exposed. 
The vessel that had conveyed us front Eimeo to 
Huahine, and in the building of which the Missionaries 
were engaged when we arrived, had been undertaken 
joijjtl^y by them and the king, at the recommendation 
of the Governor of New South Wales, and the Revc 
S. Marsden. The king proposed to find materials, and 
the Missionaries labour. By this means they hoped 
they might be enabled to instil into the minds of the 
natives . a spirit of enterprise, and induce them to de¬ 
sire to build ships for themselves. It was intended 
to employ the vessel in the pearl-fishery, among the 
Paumotu Islands to the eastward; tp work ^ her with 
native seamen; to take the pearls, and mother-of-pearl 
shell, to Port Jackson,; bringing from that settlement 
tools, cutlery, and manufactured goods for the natives, 
and supplies for the Mission; thus proving, at the same 
time, a means of stimulating the people to habits of 
3 H 
