234 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
The young chieftain was in his nineteenth year ; 
his rank and influence led us to indulge cheering 
anticipations ; and, during his juvenile years, he 
was greatly beloved by the people. He led also, 
when it was supposed he could scarcely have 
arrived at years of discretion, shewn his contempt 
for the idols of his country, his desire to be 
instructed concerning the true God, and had 
prohibited the licentious and idolatrous cere- 
monies of the Areois, when few were favourable 
to Christianity. Subsequently, Taaroarii had be- 
come a diligent pupil of the Missionaries. We 
could not but hope that Divine Providence was 
raising him up to succeed his father, and to 
govern the islands under his authority, for the 
stability of the Christian faith, and the advance- 
ment of the people’s best interests. 
These hopes, however, were disappointed. He 
treated Christianity and the worship of God with 
respect, was a steady enemy to the introduction or 
use of ardent spirits by chiefs or people, and was 
not a profligate man; but, soon after our estab- 
lishment in Huahine, a number of the most 
abandoned young men, of that and other islands, 
attached themselves to his retinue, which was 
always numerous, became his companions, flattered 
his pride, and, in many respects ministering to 
his wishes, they infused their own evil principles 
into his mind. 
Being naturally cheerful and good-natured, he 
was induced by his companions, first to neglect 
instruction, then the public worship of God, and, 
subsequently, to patronize and support his fol- 
lowers. His venerable father beheld the change 
_ with poignant grief, and used all the affection, 
influence, and authority of a parent, to lead him 
