258 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
The total overthrow of idolatry, splendid and im¬ 
portant as it was justly considered, was but the begin¬ 
ning of the amazing work that has since advanced 
progressively in those islands. It resembled the dis¬ 
mantling of some dark and gloomy fortress, or the razing 
to its very foundation of some horrid prison of despotism 
and cruelty, with the materials of which, when cut 
and polished and adorned, a fair and noble structure 
was, on its very ruins, to be erected, rising in gran¬ 
deur, symmetry, and beauty, to the honour of its pro¬ 
prietor, and the admiration of every beholder. The 
work was but commenced, and the abolition of 
idolatry was but one of the great preliminaries in those 
designs of mercy, and arrangements of divine provi¬ 
dence, which were daily unfolded, with increasing 
interest and importance, in their influence on the destiny 
of the people. 
The conduct of the victors, on the memorable 12th of 
November, had an astonishing effect on the minds of the 
vanquished, who had sought shelter in the mountains. 
Under cover of the darkness of night, they sent spies 
from the retreats to their habitations, and to the places 
of security in which they had left their aged and 
helpless relatives, their children, and their wives. 
These found every one remaining as they had left 
them on the morning of the battle, and were in¬ 
formed, by the wives and relatives of the defeated war¬ 
riors, that Pomare and the chiefs had, without any excep¬ 
tion, sent assurances of security to all who had fled. This 
intelligence, when conveyed to those who had taken refuge 
in the mountains, appeared to them incredible. After 
waiting, however, some days in their hiding-places, they 
ventured forth, and singly, or in small parties, returned 
