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POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
gave Matapuupuu charge of the helm^ which I had 
hitherto kept during the whole of the voyage^ and, direct¬ 
ing him to awake me in about an hour’s time, I wrapped 
myself in my cloak, lay down upon the seat in the stern 
of the boat, and, notwithstanding the motion of the sea, 
and the rattling and shaking occasioned by the movements 
of the oars, soon fell into a sound sleep. 
The refreshing and beneficial effects of my repose 
were, however, entirely neutralized by the sensations I 
experienced at its close. I cannot describe my emotions 
when I awoke, and found it was broad day-light; and, on 
turning to the helm, saw Matapuupuu fast asleep, with 
his hands still on the tiller; and then, looking forward 
along the boat, on beholding every individual motion¬ 
less 5 the rowers leaning over their oars, the others 
stretched along the bottom of the boat, and every one in 
the most profound sleep. Before I attempted to awake 
any one, I involuntarily looked for the island we had left. 
It was still in sight. I then looked on the opposite side, 
for that to which we were going. It was also in sight, 
but the lofty mountains rising at the head of Matavai 
were far to the north, and indicated that the port to 
which we were bound was many miles behind us. In 
fact, we appeared to be about midway between Tahiti 
and Eimeo, drifting to the southward, far away from 
both, as fast as the current could bear us. 
Fully sensible of our critical situation, if the breeze, 
which just began to ripple the surface of the water, 
should increase, I instantly awoke my companions, and 
asked them how they came all to fall asleep together. 
They looked confused, on beholding the broad light of 
day beaming upon them, and replied that each had im¬ 
perceptibly fallen under the influence of sleep, without 
