302 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
ngain. The chief received the property, and 
Capt. Forbes was permitted to come on board the 
brig, but Mr. Torrance was detained till more 
property should be sent on shore, which was done 
by the boat, and taken on shore by the New 
Zealander. Mr. Torrance was then permitted to 
come off to us. At this instant Captain Forbes 
exclaimed, ‘ O, Mr. Nott! we see now, more than 
ever, what has been done by you and the 
Missionaries on the islands where you have re¬ 
sided, and the trouble you have had in bringing 
the natives, from what they were, to what they are 
now.’ ” 
We have already noticed Pomare, the first con¬ 
vert in the islands, visiting the different districts 
for the purpose of persuading its inhabitants to 
renounce their idols, and embrace the Christian 
faith. We have seen Mahine, the king of Hua- 
hine, sending his messenger to that island for 
the same purpose; and we have seen Tapa, and 
the chiefs of Raiatea, prosecuting, in 1816, the 
work commenced by Mr. Nott and his companion 
in 1814, and engaged in subverting idolatry and 
preparing his people to receive Christianity, before 
any European Missionary had taken up his abode 
on their islands. Mai and Tefaora not only dis¬ 
tinguished themselves by their zeal in the destruc¬ 
tion of the idols and temples of Borabora, but 
the latter sailed over to Maurua, and induced 
the chief and people of that island to follow his 
example, and discontinue the worship of their 
idols. 
It is not probable that all who thus distinguished 
themselves were fully acquainted with the gospel, 
or entirely under the influence of the high and 
sacred motives it inspires, but they are convinced 
