526 
POLYNESIAN REISEARCHES. 
artist attached to two Russian ships of discovery, that 
visited the islands a short time before his death 3 and, 
excepting a little undue prominency in the forehead, is 
a good likeness. 
His character was totally different from that of his 
father—who was a man of enterprise, excessive labour 
and perseverance, bent on the aggrandisement of his 
family, and the improvement of his country, clearing waste 
tracts of land, planting them, and generally occupy¬ 
ing the people with some public work. Pomare took no 
delight in exertions of this kind, but manifested aversion 
to them ; his habits of life were indolent, his disposition 
sluggish, and his first appearance was by no means 
adapted to produce a favourable impression on a stran¬ 
ger’s mind. Captain Wilson conceived such an idea of his 
stupidity and incapacity, as to suppose him the last 
person on whom any favourable impression would be 
made. 
He was, however, though heavy in his appearance and 
indolent in his habits, inquisitive, attentive, and more 
thoughtful perhaps than any other native of the islands; 
—a keen observer of every thing that passed under 
his notice, although at the time he would not appear to 
be paying particular regard. He was not only curious 
and patient in his inquiries, laborious in his researches, 
but often exhibited a great degree of ingenuity, notwith¬ 
standing his dull appearance. I have sometimes been in 
his company, when he has kept a party of chiefs in con¬ 
stant laughter, as much from the dryness and coolness 
with which his expressions were uttered, as the hmnour 
they contained. He was not, however, fond of conviviality 
or society, but appeared to be more at ease when alone, 
or attended only by one or two favourite chiefs. 
