198 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
ancestors^ and insulted those to whom his family was in¬ 
debted for the elevated distinction to which it had been 
raised in Tahiti^ and the neighbouring islands. Pomare^ 
however, was uninfluenced by any of these representa¬ 
tions, and, notwithstanding the embarrassed state of his 
affairs, and the uncertainty of the result, to which the 
present agitation, and the approaching national assem¬ 
bly of chiefs and people, might lead, and though his 
friends added insult and reproach to his misfortunes, he 
remained ‘‘ steadfast and unmoveable.'^ 
Tlie communications between Tahiti and Eimeo were 
now frequent, and the repeated accounts of Pomare’s 
persevering and laudable endeavours to enlighten 
the minds of liis subjects, were not the only cheering 
tidings they received. Mr. Bicknell went over in a 
vessel bound to the Pearl Islands, and in a few days 
returned, with the pleasing report that a spirit of inquiry 
had been awakened among some of the inhabitants of 
that island, that two of those they had formerly in¬ 
structed, had occasionally met to pray to God. In order 
to ascertain the nature and extent of the anxiety 
which had been excited, and to confer with the indi¬ 
viduals under its influence, Messrs. Scott and Hayward, 
having been deputed by their companions to visit Tahiti, 
sailed over from Eimeo, on the 15th of June, 1813. 
Although the king was residing in Matavai, they landed 
in the district of Pare, and proceeding to the valley of 
Hautaua, they learned that the report was correct, and 
that in the neighbourhood there were some who had 
renounced idolatry, and professed to believe in Jehovah, 
the true God. 
On the following morning, according to the usual 
practice when travelling among the people, they 
