26 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
quest, conducted them to Pomare and Idia, whose 
tent was at some distance. These individuals 
beheld them with great concern ; and, expressing 
no ordinary sympathy in their distress, immediately 
furnished them with native apparel and refresh¬ 
ment ; and, when they had rested about an hour, 
accompanied them on their return to Matavai.-— 
When they reached Otu’s dwelling, Pomare called 
the king, his son, into the outer court, and ques¬ 
tioned him as to the treatment the Missionaries 
had received. He said but little; yet there was 
reason to suppose, that if the assault had not been 
made by his direction, he was privy to it. Bent 
on the conquest of the whole island, and desirous, 
in conjunction with those attached to his interests, 
of depriving his father and younger brother of all 
authority in Tahiti, muskets and powder were 
articles in greatest demand, and the aid of Euro¬ 
peans was most earnestly desired. The Missiona¬ 
ries, by furnishing supplies to the vessel, had pre¬ 
vented his obtaining the former; and in order to 
be revenged on them for this act of friendship to 
those on board, he had allowed some of his men 
to follow and to plunder them. They had not 
communicated to him their business, but their 
having applied for the return of the Sandwich 
Islanders, who had before absconded from the 
vessel, led him to suspect their business on the 
present occasion. The seamen, who had deserted 
from the Nautilus, were under the protection of 
the king, and appeared among his attendants. 
The Missionaries did not disclose the object of 
their visit; but Pomare insisted on the deserters 
being delivered up, assuring them they should be 
carried on board the next day. The seamen ex¬ 
pressed their determination to remain ; and one of 
