From this account it is clear that, by means of the English and their firearms, Pomare had succeeded in destroying the rival chiefs of Opunohu, Faaa, and Taiarapu, but he still kept an ominous silence about the most serious rival of all, the chief of Papara, whose fate was to come last. What sort of peace Pomare wanted was clear to Vancouver, for, as the irresistible power of the English guns became more and more evident, Pomare’s views became more extensive, until they embraced all the islands within reach, including Borabora.

"Pomurrey and his brothers, having procured from the vessels which had lately visited Otaheite several muskets and pistols, they considered themselves invincible; and the acquiring new possessions for Otoo now seemed to occupy the whole of their study and attention. They were extremely solicitous that I should contribute to their success by augmenting their number of fire-arms, and adding to their stock of ammunition. Of the latter I gave Pomurrey a small quantity; but of the former I had none to dispose of, even if I had seen no impropriety in complying with his request. Finding there was no prospect of increasing their armory, they requested that I would have the goodness to conquer the territories on which they meditated a descent, and, having

Indigenous Histories