POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
87 
remain; and one of them said^ they take me on 
board again^ they shall take me on board dead.” The 
conduct of Pomare^ the king’s father^ with that of his 
queen, Idia, was highly commendable: several of the 
articles of dress, which had been taken from the 
Missionaries, were restored, and the people in general 
appeared to compassionate them; though two of them 
heard the natives, who were stripping them, remark that, 
as they had four of them in their possession, they would 
go and take the fourteen remaining at Matavai. In the 
evening the Missionaries arrived at their dwelling, having 
been furnished by Pomare with a double canoe, for their 
conveyance home. 
The impression this unpleasant occurrence produced 
upon the society at Matavai, was such, that eleven 
Missionaries, including four who were married, judged 
a removal from the island to be necessary; and as the 
captain and supercargo of the Nautilus offered a passage 
to any who were desirous of returning to Port Jackson, 
they prepared for their departure. Two days after the 
plunder of the Missionaries, Pomare sent the chief 
priest of the island with a fowl as an atonement, and a 
young plantain as a peace-offering, and on the folloAV- 
ing day hastened to their dwelling. 
The report of the departure of the Missionaries soon 
spread through the island, and appeared to be regretted 
by many of the people. Pomare, who had ever been 
most friendly, manifested unusual sorrow, and used 
extraordinary efforts to persuade them to stay. He 
went through every room in their house, and every birth 
on board, and addressed each individual by name, with 
earnest entreaties to remain, and assurances of protec¬ 
tion. Noti^ eiaha e haere^ Mr. Nott, don’t go, was his 
