284 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
and large resources, would establish themselves in 
the islands, and, with an armed force, which he 
would in vain attempt to oppose, would either 
destroy the inhabitants, or reduce them to slavery. 
These alarming statements were strengthened by 
allusion to the present state of the West Indies, 
where Mr. Gyles had been engaged in the manu¬ 
facture of sugar and the culture of coffee. This 
device was employed for a short time with success 
against the establishment of the Mission among 
the Sandwich Islands; where the king and chiefs 
were told, that though foreigners first went in a 
peaceable and friendly manner to the West Indies, 
they subsequently went with all the apparatus of 
war, attacked and defeated the inhabitants, hunted 
the fugitives with blood-hounds, finally extermi¬ 
nated them, and remained masters of the islands. 
Though the inconsistency of this statement with 
the defenceless manner in which the Missionaries 
had come amongst them, would have been self- 
evident to an enlightened mind,—being supported 
by an incontrovertible historical fact, it was 
remarkably adapted to operate powerfully upon an 
individual but partially informed, and exceedingly 
suspicious of every measure that might perma¬ 
nently alienate the smallest portion of territory, or 
lead to the establishment of foreign proprietorship, 
and consequent influence, in the islands. 
This view of the enterprise led Pomare to 
decline rendering that assistance which was ex¬ 
pected, and the want of which retarded the pro¬ 
gress of the work. The necessary labour required 
from the natives was paid for at a remarkably high 
price, and often difficult to obtain on any terms. 
Matters continued in this state until the month of 
May, 1819, when a national assembly of the chiefs 
