454 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



decisive victory ;, killing Opuhara, the leader of " the Conservatives/' and 

 enabling Pomare to capture and destroy the idol of the great god Oro, 

 the " ancestor of the chiefs/' a huge, uncarved log covered with red and 

 yellow feathers. Thus through methods savoring more of Mahomet than 

 of Christ was Tahiti converted. 



Soon all old customs were crushed out ; European clothing and man- 

 ners were introduced, and rigid laws were enacted obliging all to con- 

 form to the outward forms of Christian worship. 



A priestly despotism similar to that which prevailed in the seven- 

 teenth century in Puritan New England was inaugurated; the Sabbath 

 commencing on Saturday afternoon every one being obliged under 

 penalty of a heavy fine to attend the services of the church. To-day, 

 in the Ellice and Gilbert islands and in other remote parts of Polynesia, 

 a similar tyranny is maintained. 



Pomare was " king," but his power was broken never to be restored, 

 and the actual government of Tahiti was in European hands. 



The tabu system having been destroyed, Mr. Nott, one of the 

 original missionaries, devised a code of laws in 1819, the "king," chiefs, 

 and people all approving by raising their hands at a public gathering. 

 These laws were still further elaborated in 1826 and were designed to 

 provide a regular system of taxes (tribute), and penalties. The follow- 

 ing table may be interesting, for it serves to give an insight into the 

 mental character, spirit of toleration, and power to enforce their rule 

 enjoyed by the missionaries: 



Crime Penalty 



Working on Sunday, first offense. To make a road 300 feet long and 



6 feet wide. 

 Working on Sunday, second offense. A road 660 feet long. 



Stirring up rebellion. A road 660 feet long. 



Murder or infanticide. Banishment to some lonely island 



for life. 

 Bigamy for men. A road 240 feet long and 6 feet 



wide. 

 Bigamy for women. To make two floor-mats. 



For being tatooed. A road 60 feet long, and the tatoo- 



marks to be obliterated by blacking 



them over. 

 Drunkenness in men. A road 30 feet long. 



Drunkenness in women. Two large mats. 



Stealing a pig. A fine of 4 pigs, two for the owner 



and two for the king. 



As Ellis says 



the law which prohibits labor on the Sabbath day is perhaps enforced by a pen- 

 alty disproportionate to the offense. 



In most of these penalties a part of the fine went to benefit the king 

 or district chief, who thus profited through the dereliction of his sub- 



