te hove to, near the land, several canoes came off
to welcome the well-known flag. The natives were decently dressed in
shirts and trousers, with straw hats; and their manner was particularly
quiet and at the same time cheerful. They offered to bring off any
provisions which might be required; but the captain wished himself to go
on shore, and said that he could then purchase what he wanted. Two
whalers were at the time standing off and on the land, while their boats
were on shore. Ben was glad to find that three boats from the frigate
were going on shore, to one of which he belonged. A native pilot in his
boat led the way, the captain's gig following; but, as the wind was
light and the tide high, there was no difficulty in passing through the
barrier, and, once inside, the boats were in smooth water.

The officer on landing was met by a respectable-looking native, who
announced himself as the salesman of the station, putting out his right
hand, and saying, "_Ria-ora-na_!" (Blessings on you.) The officers
were then conducted to the market-house, where there were stores of
bananas, yams, pumpkins, potatoes, cocoa-nuts, fowls, and various other
articles. The purser of the frigate then stated the quantity of
provisions he required. The salesman informed him of the current price,
a calculation was made, the money was paid, and the salesman undertook
to engage native boats, in which everything was taken off in excellent
condition.

The captain first visited the mission establishment. It consisted of a
centre building, and a great number of small houses. These were the
residences of the married students; every single student had a room to
himself. Nearly two hundred students have been educated at the college.
A very important part of the establishment is the printing-press, which
supplies with a number of valuable works, not only Raratonga, but
numerous other islands of the Pacific where the dialect of the
inhabitants is understood. The students also consist, not only of
natives of the Hervey Islands, but young men from far distant places.
In each village there are schools and churches and native pastors.
Children also are brought from other islands to the chief school, under
the English missionary, to receive instruction. Thus from this once
savage country the true light now shines forth over a wide circle of the
Pacific--that light brought to those shores by the once heathen Papehia!

When the boats got back