POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
113 
to their own dwelling. A strong paling, or stockade, 
was planted round the house; boards, covered with nails? 
were sunk in the paths leading to it 5 and thither the 
Missionaries, Captain Bishop, Captain House, commander 
of the vessel that had been wrecked, and the seamen 
under their orders, now retired, as they daily received 
the most alarming accounts of the intention of the rebels 
to make their next attack upon them. The veranda in 
front of their dwelling was protected by chests, bedding, 
and other articles, so as to alford a secure defence from 
musket-balls; and the sides of the house, which were 
only boarded, were fortified with similar materials. 
Four brass cannon, which had been saved from the wreck 
of the Norfolk, were fixed in two of the upper rooms, 
and the inmates of the dwelling were placed under arms, 
as far as the number of muskets would admit. The 
Missionaries, as well as the seamen, stood sentinels 
in turn, night and day, in order to prevent surprise. 
Their situation at this time must have been most dis¬ 
tressing. Independently of the desolation that surrounded 
them, and the confusion and disquietude that must 
necessarily have attended their being all confined in one 
house, together with the two captains and their seamen,, 
they were daily expecting an attack. Sometimes they 
heard that the rebels w^ere entering Matavai from the 
east, at other times from the west, and sometimes they 
received intelligence that they had divided their forces, 
and intended to commence the attack from two opposite 
points at the same time. 
Pomare erected some works on One-tree Hill, to 
arrest their progress, should they attempt the district in 
that direction; and, hearing they were still ravaging the 
peninsula of Tairabu, sent a strong party to tahu~te ohua^ 
Q 
