In 1849 a whaling ship rescued some Rakahangan/Manihikian castaways and deposited them on the distant island of Aitutaki. The London Missionary Society took the opportunity of returning them, accompanied by two missionaries. Six years later, according to the missionary Maretu: "At that time some people still worshipped the frigate bird and a species of land crab. They now realised they were useless. They discarded them and came to study class wishing to be accepted later as church members so they would be joined to the vine of life."