PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 267 



CHAPTER IX. 



Proceedings at Otaheite — The Ship visited by the Queen Regent, 

 the Royal Family, and several Chiefs — Short Account of the 

 former since Captain Cook's Visit — Successful Issue of a Dis- 

 pute with the Government respecting the Detention of a trading 

 Vessel — Visit to the Queen Regent's House — Present Condition 

 of the Chiefs and of the Inhabitants — Superstitions — Trial of 

 Natives for Theft of the Ship's Stores — The King visits the Ship 

 — Lake and Morai of Mirapaye — Dance exhibited by a Party of 

 New Zealanders — Considerations on the Effect of the Introduc- 

 tion of Christianity. 



The diversity of feature of the romantic Island of 

 Otaheite formed a strong contrast with the mono- 

 tonous appearance of the coral formations ; the va- ^I?' 

 riety of hill and valley, and of woods and rivers in 

 the one, after the sameness of flat, sterile, parched- 

 up surface in the other ; and the glassy smoothness 

 of the harbours around us, opposed to the turbulent 

 shores we had recently quitted, were gratifying in 

 the extreme, and impressed us most forcibly with 

 the truth of the observations of our predecessors, 

 who have spoken of the scenery of this island in the 

 highest terms of commendation. 



As I proposed to remain here a few weeks to re- 

 cruit the health of the crew, who were somewhat 

 debilitated, and to prepare the ship for her voyage to 

 the northward, she was moved to an inner anchorage 

 opposite a small village called Toanoa, and there 

 secured by a cable fastened to some trees on one 



