362 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES 
CHAP. XIII. 
Situation, extent, and productions of Rapa— Singularity of 
its structure—Appearance of the inhabitants—Violent 
proceedings on board—Remarkable interposition of Pro¬ 
vidence—Visit of some natives to Tahiti—Introduction 
of Christianity into Rapa— Raivavai —Accounts of its 
inhabitants—Visit of Capt. Henry—Establishment of a 
native mission—Fatal ravages of a contagious disease 
Tubuai— Notice of the mutineers of the Bounty — Origin 
of the inhabitants—Prevention of war—Establishment 
of salutary laws— Rimatara —Productions—Circum¬ 
stances of the inhabitants—Abolition of idolatry—Ge¬ 
neral improvement —Rurutu— Geological character— 
Population—Auura—His voyage to Maurua—Return 
to his native island—Destruction of the idols—Visit to 
Rurutu—Advancement of the people in knowledge, in¬ 
dustry, and comfort—Unjust conduct of visitors—Treat¬ 
ment of the shipwrecked by the natives—Progress of 
Christianity. 
About seven degrees nearer the equator than New 
Zealand, and thirty-six farther to the eastward, 
the lofty and many-peaked island of Rapa is situ¬ 
ated. The first account of this island is given by 
Vancouver, who discovered it in his passage from 
New Zealand to Tahiti, on the 22d of December, 
1791.* According to the observation made at the 
time, it was found to be situated in lat. 27. 36. S. 
* The mingled emotions of astonishment and fear, with 
which the natives regarded every thing on board Vancou¬ 
ver’s ship, prevented their replying very distinctly to the 
queries he proposed ; and he observes, “ Their answers to 
