DEPARTURE OF THE MISSIONARIES. 27 
them said, ‘‘ If they take me on board again, they 
shall take me on board dead.” The conduct of 
Pomare, the king’s father, with that of his queen, 
Idia, was highly commendable; several of the 
articles of dress, which had been taken from the 
_ Missionaries, were restored, and the people in 
general appeared to compassionate them; though 
two of them heard the natives, who were stripping 
them, remark, that, as they had four of them in 
their possession, they would go and take the four- 
teen remaining at Matavai. In the evening the 
Missionaries arrived at their dwelling, having been 
furnished by Pomare with a double canoe, for their 
conveyance. 
The impression this unpleasant occurrence pro- 
duced upon the society at Matavai, was such, that 
eleven Missionaries, including four who were mar- 
ried, judged a removal from the island to be neces- 
sary; and as the captain and supercargo of the 
Nautilus offered a passage to any who were desirous 
of returning to Port Jackson, they prepared for 
their departure. Two days after the plunder of 
the Missionaries, Pomare, anxious to remove all 
apprehension from their mind, sent the chief priest 
of the island with a fowl as an atonement, and a 
young plantain as a peace-offering, and on the 
following day hastened to their dwelling. 
The report of the departure of the Missionaries 
soon spread through the island, and appeared to 
be regretted by many of the people. Pomare, 
who had ever been most friendly, manifested un- 
usual sorrow, and used extraordinary eforts to 
persuade them to stay. He went through every 
room in their house, and every birth on board, and 
addressed each individual by name, with earnest 
entreaties to remain, and assurances of protection. 
