SUCCESS OF THE REBELS. 
87 
CHAP. IV. 
Conduct of the rebels—Discouraging impressions under 
which the Missionaries abandoned the islands—Invi¬ 
tation from Pomare to return—State of the king’s mind 
during his exile in Eimeo—His reception of the Mis¬ 
sionaries—Death of three of their number—Influence 
of domestic bereavement on the Missionary life—Po- 
mare’s profession of Christianity—Application for bap¬ 
tism—Demonstration of the impotency of their idols— 
Proposal to erect a place of worship—Extracts from his 
correspondence—Influence of his steady adherence to 
Christianity—Ridicule and persecution to which he was 
exposed—Visit of Missionaries to Tahiti—Valley of 
Hautaua—Oitu and Tuahine. 
The rebels were no sooner masters of the island, 
than they resolved to pursue the most efficacious 
methods of establishing and perpetuating their 
power: arms and ammunition, they regarded as 
the best means of accomplishing this; and in order 
to secure these, as well as extend their conquests, 
they determined to murder the captain and officers, 
and to seize the first vessel that should arrive. 
The Missionaries, aware of this, wrote a letter of 
precaution, which they gave to a native, to hand 
to the master of the first ship that might touch 
there. The Venus schooner, however, arrived, 
and was seized by the people, before the native 
could deliver his letter: the master and seamen 
were not murdered, but kept prisoners, to be 
offered in sacrifice to Oro. The Hibernia, Captain 
