We were distributed among the natives in the following manner: four men and one officer were to constitute a company; and in this proportion we occupied our respective huts, lived with the families, and shared in their accommodations. Compared with the first settlement, where we stopped for the first night in our travel, this one was quite respectable, numbering twenty or more huts. We had no intention of making this settlement a permanent resting place for the winter, if by any means we could find a more southern locality. We cherished strong hope of being able to reach East Cape, and thus being taken off by some ship passing through the straits, before the approach of winter. Nor was there any time to be lost towards completing such an arrangement as this. One of the first things which we did, was to make known our wants to the head man of the settlement. So far as we were able, we conversed with him by signs, and thus endeavored to explain to him what we wished to do. He gave us to understand that it was impossible for us to travel down to East Cape this season of the year, and that the distance to the cape was very great, and it was therefore impossible to get there. Not knowing our precise locality upon the coast, we could not tell whether the cape was three or five hundred miles from us. We concluded it would be safer to remain where we were than to venture upon such an uncertainty. It was afterwards ascertained that we were distant from East Cape about two hundred and fifty miles. The head man gave us to understand, in his way, that there was a very great river to cross before we could get to East Cape, and that it could not be crossed now; and still further, if we should perish on the way, great ships (_laloutoutlines_) would come, kill him, and destroy all their huts. On the whole, we judged that it was the desire of the head man that we should remain with him and his people, and live among them for the present; and nothing occurred in all our subsequent acquaintance with the natives in this settlement to remove this impression from our minds. It may be, however, that they anticipated some remuneration for their attention to us, which, by the way, they had a right to expect. This was not unlikely a motive which induced them to desire that we might live with them. We sincerely hope the time may speedily come, when they shall be amply recompensed by our government for their kindness towards _thirty-three American seamen_, whom they protected, clothed, and fed, during three quarters of a year. CHAPTER V. No Prospect of reaching East Cape.--Painful Conviction.-- The Province of Christian Faith.--The Wreck visited.--The Natives.--Hope unexpectedly revived.--Ship in Sight.--Comes near.--Signals from the Land.--No Assistance offered.-- Sails down the Coast.--Indescribable State of our Minds.-- Card in The Polynesian.