POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 7^ 
in consequence_, civilization was advancing with wonder¬ 
fully rapid strides."’ 
The point referred to by Captain Gambier, is situated 
at a, short distance to the right of the view of Fare, 
as given in the annexed plate engraved from a sketch 
taken on the spot by Captain Elliot. It is a delightful 
spot, and affords an extensive view of the unruffled 
waters of the bay, and the infant settlement rising on 
its shores. The figures along the bottom refer to the 
following buildings : No. 1. The chapel; 2. The resi¬ 
dence of Mahine, the chief of the island,—^this was the 
first house with an upper room which the natives erected. 
No. 3. is placed beneath the schools. 4. Marks the site 
where our dwelling stood, and that of my coadjutor, Mr. 
Barff ; both these were erected at some distance from the 
shore; and stood on an elevation at the foot of the moun¬ 
tains forming the boundary of the valley. 
Although we always urged the completion of their 
houses as soon as they could, we were often highly in¬ 
terested in visiting their partially finished dwellings. 
There is something peculiarly pleasing in watching the 
process which periodically changes the face of the natural 
world. The swelling bud—the opening blossom—the 
expanding leaves—the tiny fruit-formations, as they 
regularly pass under the eye of the observer, are not 
less interesting than the bough bending with full-ripe 
fruit. The process which effects the changes marking 
the progress from birth to maturity in the animal crea¬ 
tion, is not less curious; and at this time we beheld a 
work advancing which was rapidly transforming the 
character and habits of a nation, and materially altering 
even the aspect of the habitable portions of their country. 
This gave a peculiar interest to the nondescript sort of 
