PROVIDENTIAL DELIVERANCE. 53 
without threatening to enter the district of 
Matavai, and assault and plunder the Missionaries. 
This rebellion, called in the annals of Tahiti, 
Te tamai ia Rua , The war of Rua, (Rua being the 
name of the principal leader of the rebellion,) was 
the most powerful and alarming that had yet taken 
place ; and the circumstances by which God pro¬ 
videntially preserved the Missionaries from its rage, 
and from inevitable ruin, were remarkable. About 
six weeks before Mr. Nott commenced his tour of 
Tahiti, the Norfolk, an armed brig from Port Jack- 
son, arrived at Matavai, and brought Mr. and 
Mrs. Shelly to join the Mission. About a week 
after the arrival of the Norfolk, the Venus, ano¬ 
ther colonial vessel, came into the bay, and left on 
shore Captain Bishop and six seamen, to purchase 
pigs and salt pork for Port Jackson, while Captain 
Bass pursued his voyage to the Sandwich Islands, 
on the same errand. About the 30th of March 
the Norfolk was wrecked in Matavai bay, having 
been driven on shore by a heavy gale of wind. The 
hull was destroyed, but all the stores were pre¬ 
served. Seventeen Englishmen were thus cast 
ashore, and added to the number of those already 
residing there. These, together with Captain 
Bishop and his men, exposed to one common 
enemy, united with the Missionaries for mutual 
defence; and to them, under God, the Mission¬ 
aries owed their preservation. Two or three 
hundred warriors came from Eimeo to Pomare’s 
aid. They encamped in the northern part of 
Pare, where they were joined by a number of the 
inhabitants of those districts, favourable to his 
cause; but they were attacked, and driven in con¬ 
fusion before the rebels towards Matavai, which 
had now become the frontier district. 
