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POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
mildly entreating those who reviled him, to examine 
for themselves. 
In the year 1813 he proposed to Tamatoa, the king of 
Raiatea, and Mahine the king of Huahine, to renounce 
idolatry. They determinately refused, but he still con¬ 
tinued firm in his own principles, and persevering in 
in his endeavours to influence other chiefs in favour of 
Christianity. It was in consequence of his recom¬ 
mendation, that Taaroarii, the son of the king of Huahine, 
prohibited the abominations of the Areois, and sent for a 
preacher to teach him the word of God. Pomare con¬ 
tinued the steady disciple of the Missionaries for several 
years, using all his influence in persuading the people 
to renounce their dependence on the idols, and to hear 
about the true God. His conduct in this respect was 
most commendable, for I never heard that he had re¬ 
course to any other means than persuasion, or that he 
ever held out any other inducements than those which 
the scriptures present. He had no worldly honours or 
advantages to bestow, for he was at that time an exile; 
and the constant reproach of his family and adherents was, 
that his ruin was inevitable, as he had, by renouncing 
the national worship, made the gods his enemies. 
The conduct of the king in the battle of Atehuru, his 
treatment of the capjbives, and his clemency towards the 
vanquished, have been already detailed, as well as his 
journeys for the purpose of inducing the people to em¬ 
brace Christianity. His baptism, and his promulgation of 
the laws by which the islands of Tahiti and Eimeo are 
now governed, have been also given. 
During the latter part of his life, his conduct was in 
many respects exceptionable, and his character appeared 
less amiable than it had been before. He had shewn his 
