34 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
Mermaid offered a passage either to the deputa¬ 
tion from the London Missionary Society, then at 
Huahine, or to any of the Missionaries who might 
wish to visit the Sandwich Islands. We had long 
been anxious to establish a mission among the 
Marquesas ; and as he intended touching at those 
islands on his return, it appeared a very favour¬ 
able opportunity for accomplishing it, and at the 
same time for visiting the American Missionaries, 
the intelligence of whose embarkation for Hawaii 
had been previously received. Two pious natives, 
members of the church, and one of them a chief of 
some rank in the islands, were selected for the 
Marquesas ; and I accompanied the deputation on 
their visit to Hawaii, for the purpose of aiding in 
the establishment of the native teachers in the 
former islands, observing how the people were 
disposed to receive instructors, and obtaining such 
other information as might be serviceable in direct¬ 
ing our future endeavours to maintain permanent 
Missionary stations among them. 
An account of the designation of the native 
teachers, and our embarkation, has been given in 
the preceding volume. On the 27th of March we 
came in sight of Hawaii, and were so near the 
land during the night, as to perceive the fires on 
the hills. The next morning, when the sun ap¬ 
peared, and the mists, which for some time enve¬ 
loped the land, had cleared away, the island 
spread before us in all its sublimity and romantic 
beauty. The summits of the central mountains 
were concealed among the clouds. The coast 
was lofty, and broken towards the northern extre¬ 
mity. In many parts the high grounds appeared 
clothed with verdure, and waterfalls were nume¬ 
rous along the coast. As we sailed along parallel 
