He

at the shocking appearance of Temari. 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 words she uttered. The other sufferer, on hearing this speech, refused to let Mr. Broomhall dress his wounds.

the

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

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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TEMARI'S DEATH.

others was dead. God thus showed the natives, that the stuff had not been cursed.

On September the 8th, a week after the accident, Temari expired. It is remarkable, that his death was caused, by the gunpowder he had desired for a wicked purpose. It is written in the scriptures, (Rom. i. 18,) that the wrath of God is revealed "from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men," who act against their own consciences, as Temari certainly had done. Temari had also offended God, by having once encouraged Otu, to send his servants to attack the brethren. It is written, "Avenge not yourselves. Vengeance is mine,

I will repay, saith the Lord."

Great honours were paid to Temari's body: it was embalmed, dried in the sun, and kept in the Nanu. It was intended that it should shortly be carried in state round the island.

CHAPTER XIV.

1798.

A TREACHEROUS MURDER.

You have already heard what wicked plans, Otu had been forming against his father. Though Temari, who had encouraged these plans, was

NEW HOUSE COMPLETED.

119

dead, Otu had not renounced them, and he had another wicked companion to assist him.

But before we enter upon this part of the history, we must just mention, that on September 5th, the house the missionaries had begun to build in the winter, was finished. Mr. Eyre, however, was not willing to remove to it, having observed a pool of rain-water very near, which he feared would render it unwholesome: he wished to remain in the old house with Mr. Jefferson, till the other four brethren had tried how the new one agreed with their health. Between the two houses ran a small river, over which a bridge had been built. It was therefore easy for the brethren to meet together for morning and evening prayers in the old house.

About two months after Temari's death, Otu declared, he was much offended in consequence of some words, that had been spoken by the man, called Pomare's orator. This man, in a speech upon Temari's death, had said that Pomare would not let Temari's corpse be brought to Matavai, but would throw it into the sea.

Perhaps you remember that Matavai was the part of the island where the missionaries lived: it was also the part of which Pomare was the chief, and where he had great authority.

Otu made use of the orator's speech as an