POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
559 
heard of our destination^, &c. and this partial in* 
formation accounted for the vagueness of their reports. 
In the close of the same month, the invitation I had 
received from the chiefs in the Sandwich Islands, and the 
American Missionaries, to remove thither, was submitted 
to the consideration of the Missionaries in the Leeward 
Islands, and they, with the deputation, were unanimous 
in opinion, that we ought to proceed to that important 
station by the earliest opportunity. 
The Active, a small schooner, commanded by Captain 
Charlton, arriving at Huahine soon after, was engaged 
to convey us to the Sandwich Islands. While we were 
preparing for our departure, viz. in the month of Decem¬ 
ber, 1822, a marriage took place between Pomare, the 
young chief of Tahaa, and Aimata, the only daughter of 
the late king of Tahiti. The parties met at Huahine, 
which was midway between the residence of the families 
to which they respectively belonged. Young Pomare 
had received his name, as a mark of special favour from 
the king of Tahiti. 
More than a week before his intended bride arrived 
from Tahiti, Pomare sailed from Tahaa, and landed at 
Fare, where he was entertained with the attention and 
respect suited to his rank and prospects, by the chiefs of 
Huahine. It was not, however, at that time supposed 
that his consort would become the queen of Tahiti, as 
her brother, with whom her father had left the govern¬ 
ment, was then living. 
In the month of December, Aimata, accompanied by 
her mother and aunt, arrived at Huahine, on board the 
Queen Charlotte, a brig belonging to the king. The 
afternoon of the day on which the vessel anchored was 
fixed on for her landing, and introduction to her future 
