396 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
the islands around them. As soon as they had 
recovered from the fatigues of their voyage, 
Auura and his companions launched their canoe, 
and sailed for Borabora. When they reached the 
mouth of the harbour, the wind was unfavourable 
for entering, but a boat from the island conveyed 
the chief and his wife to the shore, while their 
companions continued their voyage to Raiatea, 
where they were kindly treated by the inhabitants, 
and soon after joined by their chief. Every thing 
in the island was new and surprising; and, under 
the influence of astonishment, the strangers visited 
the dwellings of the Missionaries, the native Chris¬ 
tians, the chapel, and the schools, and soon be¬ 
came regular pupils themselves. After having 
been some time at Raiatea, they publicly renounced 
their idols, and professed themselves the worship¬ 
pers of the true God. Next to their desire for 
instruction themselves, they seemed exceedingly 
anxious to return to their native island, to impart 
to their countrymen the knowledge they had re¬ 
ceived. No opportunity for accomplishing their 
wishes in this respect, occurred, until a vessel, on 
her way to England, touched at Raiatea; we were 
on board at the time. The captain generously 
agreed to convey them to Rurutu, which he in¬ 
tended to pass, in his way to Cape Horn. Two 
native Christians, and their wives, were, at the 
request of Auura, selected to accompany them, 
and the short interval, between their appointment, 
and the departure of the vessel, was employed in 
making preparations. Their friends and neigh¬ 
bours came forward with promptness and genero¬ 
sity, and, according to their means, furnished 
such articles as were most likely to be useful in 
the land to which they were going. The men 
