considerable number of the natives were on board, having brought presents of every description which their island affords, for the refreshment of their visitors. Each of the Missionaries, together with the captain and the ship's company, was selected by one or other of the principal natives, to be considered as Tayo (or friend;) when, in consequence of this union, an intercourse of individual friendship more particularly subsisted. Their profession of friendship was very modestly and facetiously observed; and for a considerable time they persisted in their refusal of presents in return for the abundance with which they had supplied us. In short, the quantities were so great that we were under the necessity of requesting a suspension of their great and continued liberality. The decks were encumbered with hogs, cloth, poultry, and fruit of every description; which, in a measure prevented an attention to the necessary business of the ship.

On our arrival we were agreeably surprised by finding three natives of Sweden, who had resided on the island about 4 years, and whom we found very useful as interpreters. They informed us that they were cast away on a reef of rocks, at the distance of about three hundred miles, in a ship called the Matilda; when they embarked in their boat, and arrived safe at this island; and as the spontaneous productions, together with the habits of the islanders, suited their dispositions, they concluded to make this their abiding place. The natives took possession of the boat, and immediately broke it up, to procure the iron

work, in order to make fish-hooks. It may be enter taining here to notice their simplicity in a transaction which occurred at this time. The Swedes had secured and brought with them a considerable number of Spanish dollars; which, when the natives found them, they endeavoured also to convert into hooks; but the metal proving not to be good enough in their estimation for that purpose, and not knowing of what other use to appropriate them, they entertained themselves with the diversion of skipping them on the water, till the whole were expended.

Otaheite was the original destination of the Missionaries; but in the event of their being disposed to form parties, they were permitted so to do. Some, therefore, were of opinion that a division would be most likely to accomplish the enlarged views of the Missionary Society in consequence of which the following members agreed to disembark at this island, viz. James Cover, John Eyre, John Jefferson, Thomas Lewis, Henry Bicknell, John Cock, Samuel Clode, I. A. Gillham, Peter Hodges, William Henry, Rowland Hassall, Edward Main, Henry Nott, Francis Oakes, James Puckey, William Puckey, and William Smith, together with the women and children; and the remainder agreed to separate, viz. Daniel Bowell, Benjamin Broomhall, John Buchanan, James Cooper, Samuel Harper, Seth Kelso, William Shelly, George Vason, and James Wilkinson,-designed to settle on the island Tongatabboo, one of the group of the Friendly Islands; and John Harris and William Crook concluded to settle on the Marquesas. Those

therefore who intended to establish themselves here, arranged their concerns accordingly for disembarkation. The following day they were landed, together with a considerable portion of their effects. They were received very courteously amidst a vast concourse of the natives: the king and queen seated on men's shoulders, together with the principal chiefs of the island, assisted in the ceremony of receiving and welcoming their new visitors.

An old man named Pyteah, the chief of the district in which we were to reside, exerted himself greatly in preparing the house for the reception of the Missionaries; and the natives, generally, appeared much pleased with the idea, that men had come purposely from England to live among them: these favourable circumstances were highly gratifying to the Missionaries who were to settle here.

Manne Manne, the aged and high priest, had succeeded in making captain Wilson his Tayo: by the Swedes we were informed that he was a near relation of the royal family, and of considerable consequence in the islands; being chief priest, not only over Ota heite, but also of Eimeo. Manne Manne was accordingly invited into the cabin, and treated with that respect, which his situation required.

Manne Manne came early the next morning with three fine hogs, some fowls, bread-fruit, cocoa-nuts, a quantity of cloth, &c., which were intended as a present for his tayo, the captain. He made a long oration, in which he described the ships and captains which had touched at Otaheite, with the names of the

gods of Ulitea: but he acknowledged the British God to be the best; and that he would request Otoo to worship him, and to order the people to do the same.

Soon after, Peter the Swede brought various refreshments, among which was a remarkably large hog, the two sides of which, exclusive of the head and entrails, weighed three hundred and forty pounds; it had on each side of its mouth two large tusks: for use, it was much too fat for us; and, as many small pigs were brought in the course of the day, but little of it was eaten.

Manne Manne soon after took five of his wives on board the ship: scarcely any of them exceeded fifteen years, and desired that he might sleep in the cabin. According to the custom of the country, he very cordially desired captain W. his tayo, to take his choice, and could hardly persuade himself he was serious in declining the offer; nor failed the next morning to inquire of them which he had chosen.. This brought on a conversation on the nature of their customs; the captain explained to the old priest, how little such a state of polygamy was suited to happiness; that no woman could be either so attached, faithful, affectionate, or careful to promote domestic felieity, as where the heart was fixed on one object without a rival. The old priest did not at all relish this doctrine, and said, such was not the custom at Otaheite; but the ladies highly approved, and said the Pretane (English) custom was my-ty my-ty, very good.

About eleven in the forenoon, the captain, and

several of the Missionaries went on shore, accompanied by the old priest and Peter the Swede. The natives had assembled on the beach in great numbers, and as the boat approached, some ran into the water, and laying hold of her, hauled her aground; they took the captain and Missionaries on their backs, and carried them dry on shore. They were received by the young king Otoo, and his wife Tetua, both carried on men's shoulders; each took the captain by the hand, and in dumb silence surveyed him attentively, looking in his face, and surveyed every part of his dress: and the queen opened Mr. Cover's shirt at the breast and sleeves, and seemed astonished at so clear a sight of the blue veins.

The captain informed the king that the inducement of the Missionaries for leaving England, to settle on his island was to do them good, by instructing them in the best and most useful things; and required on his part the gift of a piece of land sufficiently stocked with bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees, and so large as to contain a garden, and admit of houses being built upon it; that this land should be their own; that they would not, on any account, intermeddle in their wars, nor employ their arms but for self-defence; and at all times should live free and unmolested among them: to which, if he consented, the Missionaries would stay on the island; if not, they would go elsewhere. Otoo signified the large house was our own, and that we might take what land we pleased.

After this, Manne Manne stood up in the middle of the ring, and made a long speech, passing many enco