86 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES, 
ill-treatment^ threatened them with murder. Some of 
the natives gave the Missionaries a few strips of 
cloth; and^ at their request, conducted them to Pomare 
and Idia, whose tent was at some distance. These 
individuals beheld them with great concern; and, 
expressing no ordinary sympathy in their distress, im¬ 
mediately furnished them with native apparel and re¬ 
freshment ; and, when they had rested about an hour, 
accompanied them on their return to Matavai.—^When 
they reached Otu’s dwelling, Pomare called the king, 
his son, into the outer court, and questioned him as to 
the treatment the Missionaries had received. He said but 
little; yet there was reason to suppose, that if the assault 
had not been made by his direction, he was privy to it. 
Bent on the conquest of the whole island, and desirous, 
in conjunction with those attached to his interests, of 
depriving his father and younger brother of all authority 
in Tahiti, muskets and powder were articles in greatest de¬ 
mand, and the aid of Europeans was most earnestly desired. 
The Missionaries, by furnishing supplies to the vessel, 
had prevented his obtaining the former; and in order 
to be revenged on them for this act of friendship to 
those on board, he had allowed some of his men to 
follow and to plunder them. Their having applied for 
the return of the Sandwich Islanders, who had before 
absconded from the vessel, led him to suspect their busi¬ 
ness on the present occasion. The seamen, who had 
deserted from the Nautilus, were under the protection 
of the king, and appeared among his attendants. The 
Missionaries did not disclose the object of their visit; 
but Pomare insisted on the deserters being delivered up, 
assuring them they should be carried on board the next 
day. The seamen expressed their determination to 
