ELIGIBILITY OF AFAREAITU. 213 
printing in England, it was proposed, that, as a 
temporary measure, to supply the existing demand 
for books, the press should be set up at Afareaitu. 
By this arrangement two stations would be formed 
in Eimeo, and the whole of the inhabitants be 
brought more fully under religious instruction. In 
order to carry these plans into effect, we left Pape- 
toai on the 25th of March, with Mr. Davies, Mr. 
and Mrs. Crook, and family. Mrs. Ellis, and 
myself, with an infant and her nurse, set out in a 
native canoe, having most of our goods and lug¬ 
gage on board. Mr. Crook and family preceded 
us in a fine large double canoe, called Tiaitoerau , 
literally, “ wait for the west wind,” from tiai to 
wait, and toerau west wind. 
The wind was contrary when we started; and, 
after proceeding only five miles, we landed at Tia- 
taepuaa, the usual residence of the chiefs of Eimeo. 
Here we found Mr. Crook and his family waiting 
our arrival, to join in partaking of the breakfast 
they had prepared. 
As soon as our men had refreshed themselves, 
we embarked in our respective canoes, and, re¬ 
suming our voyage, proceeded along the smooth 
surface of the sea between the reefs and the shore. 
The wind died away, and a perfect calm succeed¬ 
ed. The heat of the sun was intense, and its 
scorching effect on our faces was increased by the 
reflection of the sea. This considerably diminished 
the pleasure we derived from watching, through 
the perfectly transparent waters, the playful move¬ 
ment of the shoals of small and variegated rock- 
fish, of every rich and glowing hue, which often 
shone in brilliant contrast with the novel and 
beautiful groves of many-coloured coral, that 
rendered the sandy bottom of the sea, though fre- 
