522 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
After five days at sea^ finding ourselves near the land, 
we entered our boat, which had been towed at the 
stern of the vessel, and, rowing to the shore, landed a 
few miles to the southward of the settlement at Burder’s 
Point. No effort had been wanting on the part of the 
captain to render our voyage agreeable; but, from the 
smallness of the cabin, number of the passengers, fre¬ 
quent rains, and contrary winds, it had been tedious and 
unpleasant, and we were glad to find ourselves on terra 
firma again. Exhausted by the fatigues of the voyage, 
we found the walk to the settlement exceedingly labo¬ 
rious, and some of our party were more than once obliged 
to sit down upon the rocks by the way- side. On reach¬ 
ing the dwellings of our friends, the welcome, the re¬ 
freshment, and the rest, we there received, soon recruited 
our strength and spirits. 
We had accomplished our business, and were at 
Papeete preparing to return, when, on the 24th of Sept, 
about three o’clock in the afternoon, a vessel of consider¬ 
able size was seen approaching Point Venus. By the aid 
of a glass, we perceived that it was a three-masted vessel, 
and, in endeavouring to ascertain its signal, we were sur¬ 
prised on beholding a large white triangular banner flying 
at the top-gallant-mast-head. The ship was too distant 
to allow of our reading the motto, or perceiving with 
distinctness the device, and we could only conjecture the 
character of the vessel, or the object of the visit. 
The next morning, a note from Mr. Nott conveyed to 
us the gratifying intelligence, that the ship was direct 
from England, and that G. Bennet, Esq. the Rev. 
D. Tyerman, a deputation from the Society, with three 
Missionaries, had arrived. The captain had come over 
in his boat, and, anxious to welcome our newly arrived 
