158 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
the voyage, were speedily landed. After this, we 
accompanied our friends to the shore, elated with 
the anticipated pleasure of intelligence from home. 
In this respect we were not disappointed. A few 
letters which were at hand we received on board, 
and the rest as soon as the boxes containing them 
were opened. We broke the seals, skimmed the 
contents, and glanced at the signatures with no 
common feelings, reserving a more careful perusal 
for a season of greater leisure. 
No opportunity equally favourable for receiving 
intelligence from England, had occurred since our 
arrival. Mr. Hayward had proceeded from the 
islands to England; he had met our friends and 
relatives there, and had been enabled to satisfy 
them.in a variety of points, of which, though of 
confessedly minor importance, they were anxious 
to be informed. He had left them, and returned 
direct to us ; and the simple fact that we were 
conversing with one who had traversed scenes long 
familiar, and vividly present to our recollections, 
and one who had mingled in the society of those 
dearest on earth to us, appeared to shorten the 
distance by which we were separated, and to re¬ 
move the most formidable barriers to intercourse. 
We had a thousand questions to ask, and the 
evening was far too short for the answer of half our 
inquiries, or the perusal of our letters. 
Mingled and intense are the emotions with 
which a lonely sojourner in a distant and uncivi¬ 
lized part of the world receives a packet from his 
native land. This is especially the case when the 
symbol of mourning appears on the exterior of any 
of his letters. The unfolded sheet is sometimes 
put aside, as the eye, in its first glance over the 
lines, has been arrested by a sentence conveying 
