Otaheite, whither two of the brethren accompanied him ; and although he was not immediately reinstated in his former power, he continued firm in his renunciation of idolatry, in observing the Lord's-day, and on every suitable occasion maintaining the superiority of the christian religion. His example produced a considerable effect on those placed within its immediate influence; but, on the other hand, his apostasy from the usages of his fathers created many enemies, who saw in the losses he had recently sustained a proof that he was abandoned by Heaven, and that the wrath of his family-gods would yet be poured out more fully upon him. Pomare, nevertheless, continued steadfast, despised the ridicule with which he was assailed, and prepared himself to defend his new principles in the presence of the assembled chiefs.*

The little leaven had previously been deposited among the dry meal, and, in 1813, a fermentation began which proceeded to leaven the whole lump. Two or three individuals, who had either lived at the missionary station, or near the person of the king, began to inquire into the grounds of the new faith, in order to satisfy their own minds, and direct their worship into the proper channel. At length, without any professional teacher to guide them, they agreed to form among themselves a meeting for prayer, which they held on the first day of the week. Referring to his majesty, one of the preachers writes from Eimeo,-"he is still in Otaheite, and exposed to many and strong temptations: however, his example in public, in renouncing the idol gods and the religion of his country, and declaring his conviction of the truth, superiority, and excellence of our religion, has had a powerful influence on the morals of many, both there and in this island. Convictions stifled years ago, and instructions,

*Polynesian Researches, vol. ii. p. 99. In one of his letters the king writes:- "I continue to pray to God without ceasing. Regardless of other things, I am concerned only that my soul may be saved by Jesus Christ. It is my earnest prayer that I may become one of Jehovah's people; and that God may turn away his anger from me, which I deserve for my wickedness, my ignorance of him, and my accumulated crimes."

as we thought, entirely thrown away, seem now to take effect. There is a stir among the people; many doubt and waver, many examine and inquire; in short, we have witnessed within the past six months what we did not expect, and scarcely hoped to see in our time. We have cause for praise and thankfulness; we have cause to rejoice; yet we rejoice with trembling, lest some of our present expectations should not be realized; and we have no doubt that what we have now to communicate will excite the prayers and thanksgivings of many in our behalf, as also in behalf of these poor islanders."*

In the month of September, the number of converts was forty-two; and as there was now a demand for books, the missionaries exerted themselves to procure copies of several elementary treatises, both in literature and theology. Having as yet no press, they found it necessary to send their manuscripts to Sydney, with the view of being printed; an inconvenience from which they were shortly afterwards relieved. Meanwhile, as several of the chiefs espoused the christian cause, the principles of the gospel were every where received with greater respect, and regarded more closely as the rule of life. But the idolatrous party were not blind to the events which were taking place throughout all the islands in the neighbourhood of Otaheite. Urged by their priests, and encouraged by some of the more powerful leaders, they assembled in arms, resolved to oppose the return of the king, when finally recalled from Eimeo; and, accordingly, in the end of November 1815, they made preparations to attack the Christians while engaged in the most solemn service of their religion. When the officiating minister was about to proceed, a firing of muskets was heard, and immediately after, a large body of men was seen advancing. A battle ensued, in which the pagans seemed at first to have the advantage; but their champion being slain, a general rout followed, and Pomare found himself a conqueror in a field where no enemy remained

▪ Missionary Records, p. 193.

to dispute his claim to the entire sovereignty of his native dominions.

The royal army, flushed with success, were, as usual, preparing to pursue and destroy the fugitives, when the king commanded that no more blood should be shed. This forbearance had an astonishing effect on the minds of the vanquished. During the following night, they sent spies from their places of retreat, to learn what had become of their wives, children, and aged relatives; all of whom were discovered in perfect safety, undisturbed by their triumphant foe. The intelligence at first appeared to them quite incredible; but after some days, they ventured from the mountains, whither they had fled, and returned to their houses, in which they found their property secure, and their families uninjured. To the king, from whom they received assurances of pardon, they made haste to tender their submission, imploring his forgiveness for having taken arms against him. When Pomare gave directions to his people to destroy the idolatrous temple, he said, " go not to the little island where the women and children have been left for security; turn not aside to the villages or plantations; neither enter into the houses, nor destroy any property, but go straight along the high road, through all your late enemy's districts." The party thus commissioned, proceeded to their destination; and having entered the marai, they brought out the idol, stripped it of its sacred coverings and ornaments, and dashed it to the ground. It was a rude uncarved log, about six feet long. The altars were then broken down, the fanes demolished, and all the instruments of worship committed to the flames. The unshapely piece of wood, called by the natives the body of Oro, and through which they imagined the power of the god was exerted, was brought in triumph to Pomare's camp, fixed up as a post in the royal kitchen, and afterwards used for the meanest purposes. Upon witnessing this end of the principal divinity adored by the Otaheitans, and in whose cause many desolating wars had been waged, the most zealous devotees became con

vinced of their delusion, and the people at large did not hesitate to declare that their gods had deceived them.

At this epoch idolatry may be said to have been abolished in the Georgian group, and the public mind delivered from a most degrading bondage. Private temples as well as those accounted national, were destroyed; the sacred images were treated with contempt; and even the least instructed of the inhabitants were ashamed to acknowledge a superstition which they saw every where repudiated. Messengers arrived, from time to time, deputed by influential chiefs, requesting that proper persons might be sent to teach them to read, and to instruct their dependants concerning the obedience required to the word of the true God. Schools were built, and places for public worship erected; the Lord'sday was piously observed; divine service regularly performed; and all the grosser abominations of the ancient ritual gradually fell into disuse. The missionaries who had fled returned to Otaheite, invited by the same people who formerly expelled them. From this period, their congregations often exceeded four hundred; the more intelligent among the catechumens were, at their religious meetings, requested to read a portion of Scripture; and some of them also wrote the prayers which they used in church.*

Mr Nott has given a translation of an excellent form of prayer used by Pomare on one of those occasions :-" Jehovah, thou God of our salvation, hear our prayers, pardon thou our sins, and save our souls. Óur sins are great and more in number than the fishes in the sea; and our obstinacy has been very great and without parallel. Turn thou us to thyself, and enable us to cast off every evil way; lead us to Jesus Christ, and let our sins be cleansed in his blood. Grant us thy good Spirit to be our sanctifier. Save us from hypocrisy. Suffer us not to come into thine house with carelessness, and return to our own houses to commit sin. Unless thou have mercy upon us, we perish. Unless thou save us, unless we are prepared, and made meet for thy habitation in heaven, we are banished to the firewe die; but let us not be banished to that unknown world of fire. Save us through Jesus Christ, thy Son, the Prince of Life; yea, let us obtain salvation through him. Bless all the inhabitants of these lands, the families thereof: let every one stretch

In a brief space, the same spirit extended itself to the other islands situated towards the west. The principal chief publicly renounced idolatry, and embraced the gospel. His example was soon followed by others, especially by the rulers of Bolabola, who distinguished themselves by their zeal in removing every trace of their former superstition, as well as by building a house for the worship of the true God. In no respect was this change more conspicuous than in the pious observance of the first day of the week, the whole of which was devoted to religious duties and instruction. No fire was lighted, no food was cooked. The natives assembled for prayer about sunrise; the stated service took place somewhat later; and a portion of the forenoon was devoted to the schooling of the less advanced among the converts. It is true that, in some cases, the simple people attached an undue importance to mere abstinence from bodily labour, forgetting that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; and it is recorded, that one of them consented to lose his canoe rather than to remove it from the advancing tide. It is, indeed, readily admitted by their christian teachers, that only a very small number of those who were the most regular in observing the stated seasons of devotion, were influenced by a just feeling of the services in which they were engaged. With many it was but a customary engagement, which they supposed would lead God to regard them with favour; still there can be no doubt that the extent to which the habit prevailed must have been salutary in its general effects, leading their thoughts frequently to the subject of their prayers, and restraining them from the open indulgence of those sins from which they entreated their Maker that they might be delivered.

out his hand to God, saying, Lord save me! Lord save me! Let all these islands, Otaheite, with all the inhabitants of Maurua, Huaheine, and of Raiatea, and of the little islands around, partake of thy salvation. Bless Britain and every country in the world. Let thy word grow with speed in the world, so as to exceed the progress of evil. Be merciful to us, and bless, for Jesus Christ's sake."-Missionary Records, p. 223.