162 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
On looking out, over the wide-spread ocean, to 
behold the distant sail, our first attempt has been to 
discover how many masts she carried; and then, 
what colours she displayed ; and it is impossible to 
describe the sensations excited on such occasions, 
when the red British banner has waved in the 
breeze, as a tall vessel, under all her swelling can¬ 
vass, has moved towards our isolated abode. 
We have seldom remained on shore till a vessel 
has entered the harbour, but have launched our 
boat, manned with native rowers, and, proceeding 
to meet the ship, have generally found ourselves 
alongside, or on deck, before she has reached the 
anchorage. At the customary salutations, if we 
have learned that the vessel was direct from 
England, and, as was frequently the case, from 
London, our hopes have been proportionably 
raised; yet we have scarcely ventured to ask the 
captain if he has brought us any tidings, lest his reply 
in the negative should dispel the anticipations his 
arrival had awakened. If he has continued silent, 
we have inquired whether he had brought any 
supplies ; if he has answered No, a pause has en¬ 
sued ; after which, we have inquired whether he 
had any letters; and if to this, the same reply has 
been returned, our disappointment has been as 
distressing as our former hopes had been exhila¬ 
rating. We have remarked, that probably our 
friends in England did not know of his departure. 
This has been, we believe, the ordinary cause why 
so many ships have arrived in the islands from 
England without bringing us any intelligence, 
except what we could gather from two or three odd 
newspapers that have been lying about the cabin. 
Though it has been some alleviation to believe, 
that, had our friends known of the conveyance. 
