POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
197 
two other natives they had every reason to hope most 
favourably, while one, who died about this time, left a 
pleasing testimony behind, of repentance, and reliance 
on the pardoning mercy of God. 
The king’s visit to Tahiti did not succeed so well a§ 
the messengers had promised, or his friends had antici¬ 
pated: rumours of war prevailed in the western and 
southern parts of the island, and many of the chiefs sent 
professions of subjection; but the continuance of such 
acknowledgment was uncertain. Some of his ablest 
allies, especially Tapoa the chief of Raiatea, was removed 
by death, and the others prepared to return to their own 
islands. Early in the following year, the district of 
Matavai was surrendered to Pomare, but he was justly 
doubtful of the sincerity of the surrender. Amidst all 
these unfavourable circumstances, he continued bold and 
uncompromising in his renunciation of the idols, and 
every rite of idolatry; observing the sabbath, and, on 
every suitable occasion, exhibiting the truth and ex¬ 
cellency of the religion of Jesus Christ. Although 
this honourable conduct produced a surprising effect 
upon the minds of many of the inhabitants of Tahiti 
and Eimeo, who considered the king better acquainted 
both with the religion of the natives, and that of the 
foreigners, than any other person in the islands; it pro¬ 
cured him many enemies, and exposed him to no ordi¬ 
nary degree of ridicule and persecution, not only from 
his idolatrous rivals, but from his allies, and the mem¬ 
bers of his household and family. These attributed all 
his reverses to the respect he had shewn the Mission¬ 
aries, and the inclination he had indulged towards their 
God; and declared that he need not expect his affairs to 
be retrieved, since he had forsaken the gods of his 
