402 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
fest, and the improvement of the people encou¬ 
raging. Twelve months after our departure, they 
were visited by Mr. Bourne. The numbers of 
houses were increased, and a general air of com¬ 
fort pervaded the settlement. Though not very 
frequently visited prior to their intercourse with 
Raiatea, they were the victims of most unjust 
plunder, from those who resorted to their shores 
for the purposes of refreshment. A short time 
before the first European Missionaries visited 
them, an English ship hove-to off the island, and 
on the captain’s intimating his wish to obtain pigs 
and vegetables, the natives took off a supply, in¬ 
cluding a number of large hogs, for which they 
were promised, axes in return. Their canoe was 
attached to the vessel by a rope, while the 
hogs, &c. were hoisted upon the deck. As soon 
as their canoe was empty, the captain threw down 
a bundle of pieces of iron hoop, and useless pieces 
of iron, and, telling them that was their payment, 
cut the rope by which they held to the vessel, and 
sailed away. Indignant at the treachery and 
robbery of the white men, they returned to the 
shore, held a public council, related the conduct 
of their visitors, exhibited the payment they had 
received, and proposed that they should avenge 
themselves upon the .next ship that might arrive. 
The proposal was received, and it was determined 
that, instead of taking off provisions, they should 
invite the captain on shore, and then murder him 
and his companions; while others should go off 
with supplies, with which they should gain ad¬ 
mittance to the ship, and there murder the 
remainder of the crew, and seize the vessel. This 
was their purpose when the first Missionaries 
visited them. As soon as Mr. Threlkeld was 
