22 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
tended to make upon Raiatea, for the recovery of 
his authority there; but this they had firmly de¬ 
clined. The pilfering habits of the people ren¬ 
dered it necessary for them to watch their property 
during the night; and the unsettled state of poli¬ 
tical affairs in the island indicating their exposure 
to the consequences of actual war, led them to 
consider the line of conduct it would be their duty 
under such circumstances to pursue. They were 
in the possession of fire-arms, which they had 
brought on shore solely with a view to intimidate 
the natives, and deter any, who, unrestrained by 
the influence of the chiefs who had guarantied 
their protection, might be disposed to attack them. 
The propriety of their using fire-arms was, how¬ 
ever, questioned by some, and discussed by the 
whole body ; who publicly agreed that it was not 
their duty even to inflict punishment upon those 
that might be detected in stealing their property, 
but to complain to their chiefs; and that they 
could take no part even with their friends, in any 
of their wars. They resolved that their arms 
should be used for defence only, in the event of 
an attack being made upon their habitations ; and 
not even then, until every means of avoiding it 
had been employed. Some of the Missionaries 
carried their principles of forbearance so far, as to 
declare that, but for the exposure of the females, 
even then it would not be right to have recourse 
to arms. Such were the views of the Missionaries, 
and the circumstances of the people, when an 
event transpired which altogether altered the aspect 
of affairs in reference to the Mission. 
