282 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
On the twentieth of January, shortly after our 
return from Borabora, his Majesty’s ship Daunt- — 
less, commanded by Captain G. C. Gambier, 
touched at Huahine. We were happy to intro- 
duce the commander of the Dauntless, Capt. 
R. Elliot, and the officers of the vessel, to the 
governor and chiefs of the island, and to welcome 
them to our humble dwellings, as well as to expe- 
rience their hospitality on board. The recollection 
of the polite and kind attentions of Captain Gam- 
bier, Captain Elliot, and other gentlemen of the 
ship, is still erateful to the Missionaries and the 
inhabitants of Huahine. 
In a week or two after the departure of the 
Dauntless, the colonial government-cutter Mer- 
maid arrived in Fare harbour, on her way to the 
Sandwich Islands, with a small schooner, the 
Prince Regent, as a present from the British 
government to the king of those islands. © The 
captain intimated his intention of touching at the 
‘Marquesas on his return from Hawaii, and politely 
offered a passage to any of us who might be 
desirous of visiting these islands. We had long 
been anxious to attempt the establishment of 
Christianity among the inhabitants of the former, 
and as the present appeared a favourable oppor- 
tunity, we communicated the same to the deputa- 
tion, and it appeared to them desirable to visit 
these places. 
It was on the 18th of February, that the de- 
putation informed the captain of their accept- 
ance of his offer, and also requested Mr. Barff 
and myself to arrange as to which of us would 
accompany the teachers, whom it was proposed 
to send. This having been fixed, we sent a letter 
to one of the deacons, requesting him to invite 
