POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
147 
and muscular. He welcomed me to Tahiti; but, at the 
same time, appeared disappointed when he learned that 
only one Missionary had arrived, having been led to expect 
several. His acquaintance with English was very partial, 
and mine with Tahitian much more so; our conversation 
was, consequently, neither very free nor animated. He 
inquired after King George, Governor Macquarrie, and 
Mr. Marsden, the time of our departure from New 
Holland, the nature of our voyage, &c. These inqui¬ 
ries I answered, and handed him a number of small 
presents which I had brought from England, adding a 
curious penknife of my own, which he had appeared 
desirous to possess. He had a small English Bible, and, 
at his request, I read to him one or two chapters. He 
appeared to understand, in some degree, the English 
language, although unable to speak it. After spending 
some time in the cabin, the king went to see the cattle 
we had brought from New South Wales, and particu¬ 
larly a horse, which the owners of the ship had sent 
him as a present. 
Pomare was greatly delighted with the horse ; and, in 
the course of the afternoon, the poor animal, after having 
been hung in slings, and unable to lie down during the 
greater part of the voyage, was hoisted out of the hold, 
to be taken ashore in a large pair of canoes w^hich the 
king had ordered alongside for that purpose. During 
this transition, while the horse was suspended midway 
between the gangway and the yard-arm, some of the 
bandages gave way; when the animal, after hanging 
some time by the neck and fore-legs, to the great 
terror both of Pomare and the captain, slipped through 
the slings, and, clearing the ship’s side, fell into the 
sea. He instantly rose to the surface; and, snorting. 
