302 VOYAGE TO THE 



c ^ap. whose name holds a conspicuous place in the wars of 

 *— -V-— ' Pomarree, was defeated in a pitched battle by the 

 18261 king. The chief, incensed at the god under whose pro- 

 tection he fought, went to Ulietea, and by devotion, 

 presents, and promises, induced the god of that place, 

 Oroo, to accompany him to Otaheite. On his re- 

 turn, the new and, as it was supposed, powerful god, 

 so inspired the refugee party with courage, that they 

 again rallied around their chief, and so forcibly did 

 the superstition of those dark ages operate, that the 

 king, before victorious, was now repeatedly beaten 

 and driven to the opposite side of the island. The 

 chief, having secured tranquillity to his district, be- 

 gan to construct the morai above alluded to, which 

 was of such magnitude as to require two years for 

 its completion. It was then dedicated to the god 

 whose presence had achieved for him such repeated 

 victories. 



The change effected in the circumstances of the 

 chief of Papara by the introduction of this new god, 

 acquired for the deity a reputation beyond any thing 

 that had been known in Otaheite ; and the king de- 

 termined to obtain possession of it. By bribing the 

 priests, he was allowed to pay his devotions to the dei- 

 ty, and afterwards to fight under its auspices, which 

 he did so successfully that he ultimately obtained 

 possession of the idol. A morai was then built for it 

 in the valley of Atehuru, situated between Mirapaye 

 and Papiete ; memorable as the place where the last 

 battle was fought which decided the cause between 

 Christianity and paganism, and crowned with success 

 the labours of the missionaries, who for eighteen 

 years had been unremitting in their endeavours to 

 accomplish this great end ; this valley is also cele- 



