284 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
he said he was exceedingly desirous to go as a 
Missionary to some of the islands around; stating, 
that their inhabitants frequently appeared to his 
mind like persons standing on the verge of a 
precipice over a chasm, falling backwards into it, 
but stretching out their hands as they fell, and 
calling for assistance. 
After the assembly had testified its approbation 
of the two men and their wives, who had been 
proposed, and had expressed their readiness to 
go, Mr. Tyerman addressed the persons present, 
expressing the pleasure he experienced at their 
decision, and offering them suitable encourage¬ 
ment. Mr. Barff interpreted his speech, Mr. Bennet 
also tendered them his congratulations, and exhorted 
them to vigilance. When I had interpreted his 
address, the meeting was closed with prayer. 
On the evening of the 21st, we again assembled 
in the chapel. Mr. Bourne, who had arrived on 
the preceding day, commenced the services by 
prayer, and addressed the people on the duty and 
advantages of sending out teachers of Christianity. 
I then inquired, of those who had been selected, 
the grounds of their readiness to engage in the 
enterprise, and the manner in which they desired 
and designed to prosecute their work. Auna 
replied, “From a sense of the love of God, and 
his goodness, and a regard to the direction, 
4 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' ” His 
companion said, “ Our desire is to engage in 
this work with humbleness of mind, with prayer, 
with gentleness and dependence upon the Lord 
Jesus Christ.” Mr. Barff then offered up a prayer 
at their designation, and afterwards exhibited the 
nature and duties of their office, in an address 
from, “ Behold, I send you forth as lambs in the 
