352 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
u Upon walking through the village, we were 
very much pleased to see that a nice, dry, elevated 
foot-path or causeway ran through it, which must 
add to their comfort in wet weather, when going to 
prayers in their European dresses. As we stopped 
occasionally to speak to some of the natives stand¬ 
ing near their huts, we had frequent opportunities 
of observing the value they set upon the comforts 
of our English style of cottage, and other things 
introduced among them of late. They said they 
were ashamed to invite us into their huts, but that 
their other house was building, and then they would 
be happy to see us there. 
“ Afterwards I walked out to the point forming 
the division between the two bays. When I had 
reached it, I sat down to enjoy the sensations 
created by the lovely scene before me. I cannot 
describe it; but it possessed charms independent 
of the beautiful scenery and rich vegetation. The 
blessings of Christianity were diffused amongst 
the fine people who inhabited it; a taste for indus¬ 
trious employment had taken deep root; a praise¬ 
worthy emulation to excel in the arts which con¬ 
tribute to their welfare and comfort, had seized 
upon all, and, in consequence, civilization was 
advancing with rapid strides.” 
The scene described by Captain Gambier is 
represented in the accompanying engraving, 
which exhibits the progress of the buildings along 
the shore at the time. There is something pe¬ 
culiarly 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 
