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POMARE'S RECEPTION.

This unamiable tyrant was always surrounded by a train of flatterers, who slily praised him to each other, loud enough for him to hear. The titles bestowed on the king, and on all he had, were most absurd. His house was called the clouds of heaven, his large canoe the rainbow, his manner of riding was called flying, the torch that was carried before him lightning, and a drum that was often beat for his amusement, thunder. Thus, while in his conduct he resembled a beast and a devil, he fancied himself a god.

You remember that Pomare had been at the little islands, called Teturoa, during the war in December. Since that time he had been detained there many months by illness, and had been visited occasionally by Idia. On the evening of the 9th of July, the missionaries beheld thirty canoes, enter the river, that flowed between their houses. These canoes contained Pomare and Idia, and the train of servants, and the noisy areois that usually accompanied them. The brethren went out to meet Pomare, and were as kindly received as usual. Crowds of people from all quarters, flocked to welcome him, and many women showed their joy, by cutting themselves with sharks' teeth. Every one made him some small present. His rebellious son, Otu, sent some pigs and dogs, and young plantain-trees, as peace-offerings, and then pre

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sented himself before his father. Otu did not, however, ask his father to forgive his late conduct; for he was by no means conscious that he had behaved ill. Very little was said, either by father or son. The interview was ended by Pomare asking his son whether he had any ava, and by the king replying that he had some. Pomare then put his head to his son's feet, as they hung over the men's shoulders, and after this sign of respect, departed. It was a great relief to the missionaries to see the father and son on such peaceable terms, which they hoped would never again be broken.

But though they now enjoyed quiet, they were in much heaviness on account of the continued unbelief of the people. When they spoke to them of the Lord Jesus, coming down from heaven, the natives sometimes replied, "If this were true, would not Captain Cook and others, who came here before the Duff, have told us of it?" The missionaries tried to show them that though those captains had known the name of Christ, yet they had not known his customs, nor cared about them. It was dreadful to hear the blasphemous words that the people sometimes uttered against the Saviour, and how they jested about holy things; so that sometimes the missionaries felt inclined to speak of Christ no more in the presence of the heathen; yet they could

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FIRST TRANSLATIONS.

not be silent, for they knew that God was able to turn the hearts of these ignorant people, and teach their lips to praise him.

Nothing offended the natives more than to speak against their wicked customs. Even Idia, who was so much at the brethren's house, murdered another infant this summer. This was the third she had destroyed since the arrival of the missionaries. The missionaries hoped that when they were able to speak the language well, the people would be more ready to listen to them; but they found it very difficult to learn it, because they had no books to help them, and the people spoke so quickly they could scarcely catch their words. Yet they persevered, and already began to attempt to translate a few verses in different parts of the Bible, and they showed these translations to each other, at their weekly meetings.

In the autumn, they were again alarmed by reports of war about to break out, between Otu and some of his subjects whom he oppressed; but peace still continued. They heard also of human sacrifices, sometimes of ten at once being offered up by Otu and Pomare, to obtain the favour of Oro, the god of war.

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Such was the state of things, when a very awful event happened, which I will now relate. More than a year had passed away since Mr. Lewis went to live at Ahunu, He had often

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attended service at the brethren's house, but had not been permitted to visit it. He was much displeased with the behaviour of the brethren towards him, and in July he had sent them a letter to inquire whether they ever intended to be reconciled to him. They had assured him that he had not offended them, but God; and that when he was reconciled to God by repentance for his sins, they would joyfully receive him again. This answer had not satisfied him, and he continued to send them complaining letters, which they did not answer. Whenever he wrote for anything he wanted, they sent it to him. In this manner he obtained some tea and some bark, and received the promise of a little box. This, however, was never given to him, for the next thing he required was a coffin.

Early in the morning of November 28th, a native informed the brethren that Mr. Lewis had been ill the whole of the day before, and that about the time of the going down of the sun he had died. As soon as prayers and breakfast were over, three of the brethren went to Ahunu to inquire the particulars of this shocking event.

On entering Mr. Lewis's house, they found there the woman he called his wife; they saw also a bedstead upon which Mr. Lewis's dead body was lying, covered with native cloth. They lifted up the covering, and beheld the

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APPEARANCE OF THE CORPSE.

body dressed completely, (excepting it had no coat,) and the face covered with bruises. On looking at it attentively, they perceived blood running from one ear, and some dark brown stuff oozing from one corner of the mouth. They also observed that the body was very much swollen, though it was very thin. They strongly suspected that their unhappy and sinful brother had been poisoned. His wife looked very unfeeling, appearing not the least grieved at the event. Such was the woman, for whose sake, Mr. Lewis had forsaken his God! The brethren asked her how Mr. Lewis had died. She replied that he had killed himself. "Just

after dark," she said, "he went out of the house; I heard him fall, and brought a light, when I saw him dashing his head against the stone pavement before the door, and immediately af terwards he died." She then showed the brethren the marks of blood upon the stones outside the door. The brethren thought this account very improbable, and wished much to discover the truth.

The natives had appeared at first afraid of coming near the brethren, but at the end of the conversation, they began to approach; therefore Mr. Harris agreed to remain with the body, to prevent any insult being offered to it, while his two brethren, Bicknell and Nott, returned home to help to make a coffin.