CONTINUANCE OF PEACE. 229 
between the chiefs, together with a great body of 
the people, on the one side; and those dissatisfied 
with the moral restraints to which under idolatry 
they had been unaccustomed, on the other—are 
the only public disturbances that have occurred. A 
few disaffected and lawless young fellows in Raia- 
tea, supposing the Missionaries were chiefly instru- 
mental in the adoption and maintenance of the 
laws, formed a plan for murdering them, and over- 
turning the government. Mr. Williams, who was 
to have been the first object of their vengeance, 
averted the threatened danger by what appeared 
to him, at the time, a circumstance entirely acci- 
dental, but which afterwards proved a remarkable 
interposition of Providence for the preservation of 
his life. With these exceptions, the mhabitants 
have, since their adoption of Christianity, enjoyed 
uninterrupted peace during a longer period than 
was ever known before. 
Noble instances of calm determination not to 
appeal to arms, have been given by Utami and 
other governors ; the love and the culture of peace 
having indeed succeeded their delight in the prac- 
tice of war, even in the most turbulent and fighting 
districts. It is well known, Mr. Darling observes, 
in reference to the district of Atehuru, that the 
inhabitants of this part of Tahiti were always the 
first for war. False reports having reached the ear 
of the king’s party, that the people of Atehuru 
entertained evil designs against the royal family, 
_ rumours of war were spread by the adherents 
of the king, but, instead of rejoicing, as they 
would formerly have done, every one appeared 
to dread it as the greatest calamity. They gathered 
round the house of the Missionary, declaring that, 
if attacked, they would not fight, but would wil- 
