POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
137 
This disastrous war is called, in the Tahitian tradi¬ 
tions, the Tamai rahi ia Arahuraia^ The great war of 
Arahuraia. It was headed by Taute, who had long been 
the king’s prime-minister, and who was one of the most 
powerful chiefs and successful warriors on the islands. 
His name inspired terror through the ranks of his ene¬ 
mies ; and, when the king heard that he had joined 
the rebels, he was so affected, that he burst into tears. 
Pomare advised the married Missionaries to leave 
the island. They were unanimous in opinion, that 
there was no prospect of safety or usefulness, even should 
the rebel chiefs prove their friends | and this, together 
with the consideration of the little success that had at¬ 
tended the labours of so many years, occasioned their 
determination to remove. Four of the unmarried Mis*T 
sionaries offered to remain with the king, that they might 
be upon the spot, should any favourable change take 
places the others, with most of the Europeans on the 
island, sailed from Tahiti on the lOth of November, 1808, 
and arrived the following day at the island of Huahine. 
Here they were hospitably received by the chiefs and 
people. 
The affairs of Tahiti continued in the same state 
until the 22d of December; when the king, influenced by 
Metia the prophet of Oro, attacked the rebels 3 who 
were not only superior in numbers, but favoured in the 
conflict by the occupation of an advantageous position. 
Notwithstanding the prophet’s prediction of victory, Po¬ 
mare was defeated, and fled with precipitation to Pare; 
leaving a number of muskets in the hands of his ene¬ 
mies, and several principal warriors among the slain. 
Convinced, that though the chiefs of the victorious army 
might be friendly to them, yet that they could not re- 
T 
