518 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
The transient affair at Huahine, in connexion with 
which these remarks have been introduced, and similar 
occurrences in Raiatea and Tahaa—between the chiefs, 
together with a great body of the people, on the one side; 
and those dissatisfied with the moral restraints the new 
laws imposed upon their conduct, to which under idolatry 
they had been unaccustomed, on the other—are the 
only public disturbances that have occurred. A few 
disaffected and lawless young fellows in Raiatea, suppos¬ 
ing the Missionaries were chiefly instrumental in the 
adoption and maintenance of the laws, formed a plan for 
murdering them, and overturning the government. Mr. 
Williams, who was to have been the first object of their 
vengeance, averted the threatened danger by what 
appeared to him, at the time, a circumstance entirely 
accidental,—but which afterwards proved a remarkable 
interposition of Providence for the preservation of his 
life. With these exceptions, the inhabitants have, since 
their adoption of Christianity, enjoyed uninterrupted 
peace during a longer period than it was ever before 
known to exist among them. 
Some noble instances of calm determination not to 
appeal to arms, have been given by Utami, and other 
governors; the love and the culture of peace, having 
indeed succeeded their delight in the practice of war, even 
in the most turbulent and fighting districts. It is well 
known, Mr. Darling observes, in reference to the district 
of Atehuru, that the inhabitants of this part of Tahiti 
were always the first to make war. False reports reached 
the ear of the king’s party, who were told that the people 
of Atehuru entertained evil designs against the royal 
family. Rumours of war were spread by the adherents 
of the king, but instead of rejoicing, as they would for- 
