48 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
for Huahine in the Mermaid, which had returned 
about three weeks before. 
Shortly after our arrival, a public council of 
the king and chiefs of Hawaii had been held at 
Oahu. Auna and his companion, from Huahine, 
were invited to attend, and had an opportunity 
of answering the inquiries of the king and chiefs 
relative to the events which had transpired in the 
Society Islands, and of testifying to the feelings 
of friendship and esteem entertained by Pomare, 
and the rulers of those islands, much to the 
satisfaction of the latter; who were convinced 
that the reports which had been circulated among 
them respecting the hostile intentions of the 
southern islanders, and the dangerous influence 
of Christian Missions there, were totally ground¬ 
less. The complete removal of those pfejudices, 
which had been excited and nurtured by these 
means, was one great advantage of our visit. 
On our return, we conveyed friendly letters from 
the king and chiefs of Hawaii, to those of the 
Society Islands, and an agreeable correspondence 
has been ever since maintained. 
Early in February, 1823, I returned to Oahu 
with my family, experienced a kind reception from 
the king and chiefs, and was privileged to com¬ 
mence my Missionary pursuits in harmonious co¬ 
operation with my predecessors, the American 
Missionaries, who were diligently employed in 
their benevolent exertions for the spiritual well¬ 
being of the nation ; avoiding, as they have uni¬ 
formly done ever since, all interference with the 
civil, commercial, and political concerns of the 
people, and attending solely to their instruction 
in useful knowledge and religious truth. 
The difficulties attending the acquisition of the 
