POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
473 
ceedings of those who traffic with uncivilized nations, 
employed a variety of inducements to prevent the 
natives affording any encouragement to the establish¬ 
ment. At one time they assured them that it would 
be injurious to their interest, and, if successful, pre¬ 
vent their being visited by shipping, &c., offering at 
the same time, to give them for their raw cotton 
twice as much cloth as they could procure at the 
factory. At other times they threatened Mr. Armitage 
with ruin, and announced their determination to oppose 
him. Sometimes they endeavoured to persuade him to 
abandon so hopeless a project, as that of attempting 
to train the people to habits of industry. 
Their tbreatenings to seek his ruin, by opposing 
his efforts, are rather amusing. They doubtless sup¬ 
posed the attempt was on his part a speculation for 
the accumulation of wealth; the only end which most 
propose, who visit those islands; and which, when 
pursued on fair upright principles, is not to be 
condemned. These proceedings, howevex*, must have 
originated in the most contracted views of the influ¬ 
ence of such an establishment, which, while it may 
induce and encourage habits of more regular employ¬ 
ment, can never diminish, excepting in a very small 
degree, the demand for British calicoes, which will 
be superior in texture, pattern, &c. to any that can 
be made in the islands. It will also tend to encourage 
the more extensive culture of the cotton, and in the 
raw state the natives will never decline disposing of 
it to him who offers the best price. 
Notwithstanding these and various other discourage¬ 
ments, Mr. Armitage was able to persevere; and as 
there was little prospect of the females he had taught 
3 p 
