POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
521 
CHAP. XVIII. 
Arrival of the deputation at Tahiti—Visit to Huahine—Pomare’s death 
—Notice of his ancestry—Description of his person—His mental character 
and habits—Perseverance and proficiency in writing—His letters to Eng¬ 
land, &c.—Fac-simile of his hand-writing, and translation of his letter 
on the art of drawing—Estimation in which he was held by the people 
—Pomare, the first convert to Christianity—His commendable endea¬ 
vours to promote its extension—Declension during the latter part of 
life—His friendship for the Missionaries uniform—His aid important— 
Circumstances connected with his death—Accession of his son Pomare 
III. to the government—Coronation of the infant king—His removal to 
the South Sea academy—Encouraging progress in learning—Early and 
lamented death—The extensive use of letters among the islanders— 
Writing on plantain leaves—Value of writing paper, &c.—The South 
Sea academy, required by the state of native society—The trials peculiar 
to Mission families among uncivilized nations—Advantages connected 
with the visits of Missionaries’ children to civilized countries. 
We had attended our friends from the Windward 
Islands to a general meeting at Raiatea^ and enjoyed 
their society a month, when Pomare’s vessel called at 
Huahine, on her way from New South Wales to Tahiti. 
Circumstances requiring that as many of the Missionaries 
in the Leeward Islands as could leave their stations 
should meet those of the Windward group, Mr. and Mrs. 
Williams, Mrs. Ellis, and myself, accompanied our 
friends on board the Governor Macquarie, in which they 
returned to Tahiti. 
3 X 
II. 
