ATTACK ON THE MISSIONARIES. 25 
apprehension. The Missionaries recovered the boat 
on the following day; and, anxious to afford the 
captain and supercargo of the Nautilus every 
assistance in their power, agreed to use their in¬ 
fluence with the king, and two of the principal 
chiefs, to induce them to send the seamen on 
board. Four of the Missionaries went on this 
errand to the district of Pare, where the king and 
chiefs were residing. After walking between two 
and three hours, they reached the residence of 
Otu, the young king. The Sandwich Islanders 
were among his attendants, and they had reason 
to suspect that he had favoured the concealment 
of the seamen. 
Desirous of disclosing their business to the 
chiefs when together, they remained near the resi¬ 
dence of Otu some time, expecting the arrival of 
Pomare, for whom they had sent. The king was 
sullen and taciturn; and, after remaining nearly 
half an hour expecting Pomare, the Missionaries 
departed, to wait on him personally, at his own 
dwelling. 
As they passed along, the natives tendered their 
usual salutations, and about thirty accompanied 
them. They had, however, scarcely proceeded a 
mile on their way, when, on approaching the mar¬ 
gin of a river, they were each suddenly seized by 
a number of natives, who stripped them, dragged 
two of them through the river, attempted to drown 
them, and, after other ill-treatment, threatened 
them with murder. After recovering from the 
struggle, they were in a most pitiable state, de¬ 
prived of their clothing, and some of them severely 
bruised. Several of the natives now came for¬ 
ward, and expressed their pity for the Missionaries, 
gave them a few strips of cloth, and, at their re- 
