246 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
them, or the hollow roar of the surf, and the rolling 
of the foaming wave as it broke over the distant 
reef, and the splashing of the paddle of our canoe 
as it approached the shore. It was impossible, at 
such a season, to behold this scene, exhibiting 
impressively the grandeur of creation, and the 
insignificance of man, without experiencing emo¬ 
tions of adoring wonder and elevated devotion, 
and exclaiming with the psalmist, “ When I con¬ 
sider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the 
moon and the stars which thou hast ordained; 
what is man, that thou art mindful of him, and 
the son of man, that thou visitest him ?” 
The canoe at length reached the shore; we 
seated ourselves in its stern, and, advancing plea¬ 
santly along for seven or eight miles, reached our 
habitation about midnight. 
As soon as the printing was finished, we pre¬ 
pared to remove to the island of Huahine, the 
most windward of the group properly called the 
Society Islands. 
The king, and many of the chiefs of Tahiti and 
Eimeo, appeared to lament the removal of the 
press; but as Mr. Bourne, who was acquainted 
with the art of printing, had a small press and 
types, and others had been requested from Eng¬ 
land, it was the less to be regretted. The princi¬ 
pal object attempted in the establishment of a 
station at Afareaitu having been accomplished, we 
left our houses and gardens, and took a most 
affectionate leave of our friends, who evinced great 
regret at our departure. 
The season we had spent with them had been 
to us a period of no ordinary activity and excite¬ 
ment, and it would probably be regarded by 
them as an era in their history. We trust some 
