SUPERSTITION OF THE QUEEN. 69 
elevation principally to their own energies, and 
the aid they derived from their intercourse with 
foreigners; both appeared the main pillars of the 
idolatry of their respective countries ; and both left 
to their heirs the undisputed government of the 
islands they had conquered. Each appeared to 
have possessed natural endowments of a high 
order, and both were probably influenced by am¬ 
bition. Pomare was distinguished by laborious 
and patient perseverance; Tamehapieha, by bold 
and daring enterprise. The characters of their 
immediate descendants were in some respects simi¬ 
lar to each other, though both were very different 
persons from their respective predecessors. 
Otu the king was at Atehuru at the time of his 
father’s death. He sent several messengers to 
Pare, commanding the body to be brought to him ; 
but to this the raatiras, or resident chiefs, objected. 
When the Missionaries paid a visit of condolence, 
Idia requested them to tell her son it was her wish 
that the body should remain at Pare ; and to this 
the king consented. 
The death of Pomare did not alter the political 
state of Tahiti; its only influence on the people 
was such as tended to confirm them in their super¬ 
stition ; for, on the occasion of a religious cere¬ 
mony, wherein his spirit was invoked, and which 
took place shortly after his decease, it was declared 
that he was seen by Idia, and one of the priests. 
To the latter it was said he appeared, above the 
waters of the sea, having the upper part of his 
person bound with many folds of finely braided 
cinet. From this circumstance his favourite wife 
assumed the name of Tane rurua , from Tane, a 
husband, and rurua , bound round, or bound re¬ 
peatedly. 
