CHARACTER OF POMARE. 
257 
character appeared less amiable than it had been 
before. He had shewn his weakness in allowing 
the unfounded representations of a transient visiter 
to induce him to request that the manufacture of 
sugar might not be extensively carried on under 
the management of Mr. Gyles. He was also, as 
might have been expected, from the circumstance 
of his having been the high-priest of the nation 
under the system of false religion, and having been 
identified with all the religious observances of the 
people, too fond of regulating matters purely con¬ 
nected with public worship or ecclesiastical disci¬ 
pline ; and, although the Missionaries deemed it 
right respectfully to inform him that here the direc¬ 
tions of scripture were sufficient and supreme, and 
could not with safety or propriety be altered in sub¬ 
serviency to any measures of political expediency, 
they uniformly supported his authority, endea¬ 
voured to strengthen his influence, and increase 
his resources, as the rightful sovereign of the 
people. 
A few years before his death he was induced, by 
the representations of designing and misinformed 
individuals to engage in injudicious commercial 
speculations, with persons in New South Wales. 
This proved a great source of disquietude to his 
mind, and probably hastened his death. One or 
two vessels were purchased for him at a most ex¬ 
travagant price; and the produce of the island was 
required to pay for them, and to defray expenses 
connected with their navigation. One of them was 
seized, a law-suit instituted in consequence at Port 
Jackson, the rahui or tabu laid upon the island, 
the rights of property were invaded, and no native 
was allowed to dispose of any other article of pro¬ 
duce, excepting to the agents of the king. He 
in. s 
