188 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
wait till the wind should abate; though, in so doing* 
we were completely wet with the surf, and spoiled 
the provisions we had on board,, 
The wind was still too strong to allow the canoe 
to proceed on her voyage ; and those who had 
travelled by land felt too much fatigued to go on 
without refreshment and rest. Desirous of spend¬ 
ing the Sabbath with the people at Tairitii , which 
was still fourteen or fifteen miles distant, we deter¬ 
mined to rest a few hours, and then prosecute our 
journey by moonlight. 
A number of conical hills, from one hundred 
and fifty to two hundred feet high, rose imme¬ 
diately in our rear, much resembling sandhills in 
their appearance. On examination, however, we 
found them composed of volcanic ashes and cin¬ 
ders, but could not discover any mark of their 
having been craters. 
When those of our party who had travelled by 
land had recovered a little from their fatigue, we 
partook of such refreshment as remained, and 
drank the little fresh water we had brought with 
us in the canoe. Being only about a quart be¬ 
tween five persons, it was a very inadequate sup¬ 
ply in such a dry and thirsty land; yet we drank it 
with thankfulness, hoping to procure some at 
Tairitii early on the following morning. 
By the time we had finished our frugal meal, 
the shades of evening began to close around us* 
We called our little party together, and after 
committing ourselves, and those who travelled with 
us, to the watchful care of our merciful Father, 
we spread our mats on the small pieces of lava, 
and lay down to rest under the canopy of heaven< 
A pile of blocks of scoriae and lava, part of which 
we had built up ourselves, screened our heads 
