THE MONARCHY IN DANGER, 229 



— " Our present belief/' said he, '^ is preferable 

 to that which it has supplanted; bat the inha- 

 bitants of the mountains cannot understand its 

 superiority ; and strong measures are necessary 

 to prevent their relapsing into idolatry. The 

 King should not have so suddenly annihilated 

 all that they held sacred. As a first conse- 

 quence, he has been obliged to seek for safety 

 in a foreign country. How all will end, I can- 

 not foresee; but I look forward with fear. 

 The people are attached to me, and I have in- 

 fluence over them ; but my health declines, and 

 the Government, which I have scarcely been able 

 to keep together, will probably not survive me. 

 Blood will be spilt, and anarchy will prevail. 

 Already the island of O Tuai has revolted, even 

 during my life." These fears are not without 

 foundation : they are shared by the natives and 

 the foreign settlers ; and many of the Yeris 

 seem persuaded that the monarchy will be dis- 

 membered on Karemaku's death. Some have 

 already fixed upon the districts they mean to 

 appropriate, and do not even take any pains to 

 conceal their intentions. Yet has the aged and 

 infirm Karemaku hitherto maintained order 



