POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
477 
reciprocity of feeling which could lessen^ in any con¬ 
siderable degree, the burden of his grief. In the family 
of Mr. Williams he spent the greater part of his 
time, when not engaged in public duties, and expe¬ 
rienced from its members every attention which kindness 
and attachment could prompt or bestow. 
Early in 1819, circumstances rendered it desirable 
for us to visit Raiatea. We were anxious, also, to 
mingle our sympathies with those of our companions 
there, in that bereavement by which all were so deeply 
affected. We had been acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. 
Orsmond before leaving England. We had all left our 
native land about the same period, and had spent the 
greater part of our time, since arriving in the islands, 
either at the same station or under one roof, and 
felt very deeply the first breach now made by death, 
in the little circle with which we were more imme¬ 
diately connected. We therefore availed ourselves of 
the return of Mr. Orsmond’s boat to visit the sta¬ 
tion. 
About nine o’clock in the morning, Mr. Barff and 
myself, accompanied by five natives, and an English 
sailor who had charge of the boat, embarked from 
Huahine. Though the settlements were about thirty 
miles apart, yet, as the width of the channel was not 
much more than twenty miles, the mountains, and 
coast of the opposite island, were distinctly seen. 
The wind being fair, we expected to reach the Raiatean 
shore in three or four hours, and to arrive at the 
residence of our friends long before the close of day. 
We had not, however, been an hour at sea, when 
the heavens began to gather blackness, and dense 
lowering clouds intercepted our view of the shore we 
