80 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
came over to see his friend Captain Wilson^ during the 
second visit of the Duff to Tahiti. This vessel^ consi¬ 
dering it as their first effort at ship-buildings was an 
astonishing performance. To hinis the Missionaries had 
frequent opportunities of speaking, though apparently 
with but little good effect, against many of the sanguin¬ 
ary features of their idolatry, especially the offering of 
human sacrifices, in which they knew he had been more 
than once engaged since their arrival. Sometimes, how¬ 
ever, he spoke as if he officiated, in these horrid rites, 
more from necessity than choice. 
He was remarkably active and vigorous, and, though 
far advanced in years and nearly blind, indulged, without 
restraint, in all the degrading vices of his country. 
Moral character, and virtuous conduct, were never con¬ 
sidered requisite, even in those whose office was most 
sacred. As a priest, he practised every species of extor¬ 
tion and cruelty; neither was he less familiar with in¬ 
trigue, nor free from ambition, as a politician. His sup¬ 
posed influence with the gods, his deep skill in the 
mysteries of their worship, and the constant dread of 
his displeasure, which would probably have doomed the 
individual, by whom it was incurred, to immolation on 
the altar of his idol, favoured, in no small degree, his 
assumption and exercise of civil power, both in Eimeo 
and Tahiti. A jealousy appeared to exist between him 
and Pomare, the father of Otu, who was king of the 
island; and during the absence of the former, on a visit 
to a neighbouring island, he formed a league with Otu, 
to deprive Pomare of all authority in Tahiti. Hav¬ 
ing offered a human victim to his idol, he invaded the 
district of the absent chieftain, and brought war to the 
very doors of the Mission-house, in less than seven- 
