284 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
mg it with their nose; others brought him a cala- 
bash of water, or a lighted tobacco pipe. One of 
his sisters, in particular, seemed much affected; 
she clasped his hand, and sat for some time weep¬ 
ing by his side. At this we should have been 
surprised, had we not known it to be the usual 
manner, among the South Sea Islanders, of ex¬ 
pressing unusual joy or grief. In the present 
instance, it was the unrestrained expression of 
joyful feelings. Indeed, every one seemed at a 
loss how to manifest the sincere pleasure which his 
unexpected arrival, after several years* absence, 
had produced. On first reaching the house, we 
had thrown ourselves down on a mat, and remained 
silent spectators; not, however, without being con¬ 
siderably affected by the interesting scene. 
At six o’clock in the evening, we sent to collect 
the people of the village to hear preaching. Be¬ 
tween three and four hundred assembled, under a 
clump of trees, in front of the house, and I 
preached to them from Psalm xxii. verses 27 and 
28. Our singing appeared to interest them, as 
well as other parts of the service; and, at the con¬ 
clusion, several exclaimed, “ Jehovah is a good 
God ; I desire him for my God.” 
About this time Makoa arrived with our baggage. 
We were glad to see him, and inquired where 
he had been during the past week ? He said he 
remained only one night at Honuapo, and followed 
on the next morning ; observing, at the same time, 
we must have travelled fast, or he should have 
been here before us, as he had not gone round by 
the volcano, but had proceeded in a straight line 
from Kapapala to Kearakomo. 
The evening we spent with the people of the 
place in conversation on various subjects, but 
