POMARE DEFEATED. 81 
who had long been the king’s prime-minister, and 
who was one of the most powerful chiefs and suc- 
cessful warriors on the islands. His name inspired 
terror through the ranks of his enemies; and when 
the king heard that he had joined the rebels, he 
was so much affected, that he burst into tears. 
Pomare advised the married Missionaries to leave 
the island. They were unanimous in opinion, that 
there was no. prospect of safety or usefulness, even 
should the rebel chiefs prove their friends; and 
this, together with the consideration of the little 
success that had attended the labours of so many 
years, occasioned their determination to remove. 
Four of the unmarried Missionaries offered to re- 
main with the king, that they might be upon the 
spot, should any favourable change take place ; 
the others, with most of the Europeans on the 
island, sailed from Tahiti on the 10th of Novem- 
ber, 1808, and arrived the following day at the 
island of Huahine. Here they were hospitably 
received by the chiefs and people. 
The affairs of Tahiti continued in the same state 
until the 22d of December; when the king, in- 
fluenced by Metia, the prophet of Oro, attacked 
the rebels ; who were not only superior in numbers, 
but favoured in the conflict by the occupation of 
an advantageous position. Notwithstanding the 
prophet’s prediction of victory, Pomare was de- 
feated, and fled with precipitation to Pare ; leaving 
a number of muskets in the hands of his enemies, 
and several principal warriors among the slain. 
Convinced, that though the chiefs of the victorious 
army might be friendly to them, yet that they 
could not restrain their followers, who, in time of 
war, threw off all subordination; and expecting 
that the victors, after this success, would imstantly 
II. G 
