160 CONQUESTS OF POMAREH. 
ler’s exclamation—“ Furchtbar ist der Mensch 
an seem wahn,”’* was dreadfully confirmed. 
Ambition associated itself, as usual, to fana- 
ticism. King Tajo, not content with seeing in 
the remains of his people none but professors of 
the new faith, resolved on making conquests 
that he might force it on the other Society 
Islands. He had already succeeded with most 
of them, when a young warrior, Pomareh, King 
of the little island of Tabua, took the field 
against him. What he wanted in numbers was 
supplied by his unexampled valour, and his su- 
periority in the art of war. 
He subdued one island after another, and at 
last Tahaiti itself, and having captured its 
King, offered the zealot murderer of his inno- 
cent subjects as a sacrifice to their manes. In 
the end, he subjected to his sceptre ail the 
islands which had hitherto remained indepen- 
dent, and as sovereign of the whole Archipe- 
lago, took up his residence in Tahaiti. He left 
to the conquered Kings the government of 
their islands, requiring from them a yearly 
tribute in pigs and fruits; and to consolidate 
* « Formidable is man in his misguided zeal.” 
