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TEMARI'S PURCHASE.

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was no occasion for alarm. The captains soon came on shore. They were Englishmen, and their ships were named the Cornwall, and the Sally, and were employed in the whalefishery. The captains gladdened the eyes of the missionaries by a large packet of letters, magazines, and papers, that they had brought for them.

While the captains were conversing with the brethren in their house, Otu and Tetua approached, riding as usual, and shook hands. with the captains through the window: thus the natives found, that no revenge was going to be taken of the wicked deed, that had been committed.

These ships only staid three days near Tahiti; but during this time, many purchases were made by the natives, and presents given on both sides. Amongst other things the great chief Temari procured (what he had long earnestly desired) a large quantity of gunpowder. He already possessed many muskets, and only wanted ammunition. His reason for wishing for it, was most wicked; he was still anxious to join Otu in fighting against Pomare, to deprive him of all the authority he possessed. The time was now come when God would punish him for his crimes, and stop his wicked career. Temari took the gunpowder to an immense house in Pare, called the Nanu, a

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place where multitudes often assembled to celebrate riotous feasts. In this house he began to examine the gunpowder; but observing that the grain was unusually large, he thought it might not be good; so he proposed to his attendants to try its quality. He accordingly loaded a pistol, and foolishly fired it over the gunpowder. A spark fell in and blew up the whole. Temari and five other persons found their skins covered with powder; at first they felt no hurt; but on trying to rub it off, they were alarmed by the skin peeling off with it. They instantly ran, and plunged in a river near; but finding no good effect, they sent to inform Pomare of the accident.

I do not suppose that he was really sorry to hear the news, for he suspected Temari's plot: however, as Temari was a relation of his, he did not show his joy, even if he felt any, -but went immediately to the missionaries to entreat the assistance of Mr. Broomhall; he did not, however, acquaint them with the particulars of the case, or even with the name of the suffering chief; but only said that a man who had been blown up with gunpowder, lay ill at the Nanu.

Mr. Broomhall, without finishing his dinner, arose, prepared a bottle of stuff for burns, and accompanied by Mr. Harris, set out in a canoe. When he arrived at the Nanu, he was horrified

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at the shocking appearance of Temari. He applied the stuff to his body, with a camel's hair brush, and then left him, promising to call next day. But when he returned to the Nanu, he was surprised to see Temari covered with a thick white paste, which he heard was the scrapings of yam. He was sorry also to find that Temari and his wife were angry with him, for having the day before put some stuff to the burns, which had caused much pain; and he was alarmed to hear, that the people suspected, that the stuff had been cursed by his god. As he was not permitted to do anything more for Temari, he inquired, whether any other persons had been hurt, and was informed, that there were five other sufferers. Three of these, the cruel natives had allowed to languish, without even applying the yam scrapings, that they thought so excellent.

Only two of the five sufferers were willing to be touched by Mr. Broomhall. While he was engaged in applying his remedy to one of these, Temari's wife, leaving her husband's bedside, approached him, and said, "He will kill the other, after he has done this man." Mr. Broomhall was almost sure that these were the words she uttered. The other sufferer, on hearing this speech, refused to let Mr. Broomhall dress his wounds.

Mr. Broomhall and Mr. Harris then left the

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TERROR OF TWO BRETHREN.

house, and conversed together for an hour by the sea-side. They then returned to the Nanu, litte foreseeing the scene of terror that awaited them. As they entered the house, they observed the king and queen, riding outside, followed by a train of their wicked, idle servants, who were the worst people, even in Tahiti. In a little while, the brethren thought it right to go out to speak to them. The king scarcely answered their salutation, but cast on them one of those gloomy looks, which he was known to wear just before he said, (as he often did) to his servants, "Kill him;" for Otu thought no more of sacrificing a man than of cutting off a dog's neck. (Isa. lxvi.) The servants appeared to be watching the countenance of their master, and to understand his looks. "Doubtless," thought the brethren, "he believes that we cursed, by our god, the stuff we applied to Temari, and is enraged with us for attempting to kill the man, who helps him in his wicked plans."

At this moment Otu laid his hand on Mr. Harris's shoulder, and called one of his men to come to him. Mr. Harris now fully thought that the king was going to have him murdered. He tried to conceal the alarm he felt, and, at the same time, to get out of the king's reach. Seeing an animal near, that the captain of the Sally had given to Otu, he pre

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tended to wish to look at it, and so went a few steps nearer to Mr. Broomhall. He then observed, that Mr. Broomhall was as pale as death, and he heard him whisper, "Come, let us go, there is something the matter." Both the brethren returned home with all speed, yet scarcely hoping to reach it; so much did they fear that Otu would desire some of his servants to follow and slay them. God, however, was better to them than all their fears, and preserved them to praise Him, with their brethren, for the deliverance He had wrought.

Four days afterwards, Pomare came to the brethren, to ask them to apply some medicine to Temari, that would cure him, without giving him any pain. Do you smile at this request? It is not more foolish than the thoughts of those, who hope to be made holy, without suffering any troubles. The missionaries told Pomare that he had asked an impossible thing, and that Temari could not be cured without first suffering considerable pain. On hearing this, Pomare ceased to entreat them to come. Still, however, Mr. Broomhall would have visited Temari again, had not his brethren agreed that the risk was too great. At the same time the brethren heard, that the man, who had persevered in using the stuff, Mr. Broomhall had given him was nearly well, and that one of the

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