PACIFIC AND BEERING's STRAIT. 283 



Otaheite the master stated the case to the consul, C] JAP- 

 whose representation of the outrage to the queen *— ^r^~ 

 was, as has already been said, treated with derision. ^826.' 

 The consul availed himself of the present occasion to 

 obtain restitution of the stolen property, or remune- 

 ration for the owners, and a repeal of the objection- 

 able order, the execution of which it is evident could 

 not be safely confided to a barbarous people, at all 

 times too prone to appropriate to themselves what- 

 ever might fall within their reach. Her majesty was 

 exceedingly unwilling to abandon this source of re- 

 venue, and strenuously urged her indubitable right 

 to levy taxes within her own dominions, maintaining 

 her arguments with considerable shrewdness, and 

 appealing finally to the chiefs. Finding them, how- 

 ever, disposed to accede to the demands of the con- 

 sul, she burst into tears ; but at length consented, 

 by their advice, to send a circular to the Pamoutas, 

 or Low Islands, directing that no molestation should 

 be offered to any vessels trading in shells, or touch- 

 ing at those islands for refreshment ; but on the con- 

 trary that all necessary aid and assistance should be 

 afforded to them ; and that in the event of any dis- 

 pute, the matter should be referred to the authorities 

 at Otaheite. 



This concession destroyed the complacency of the 

 queen for some time, but she recovered her spirits in 

 the course of the afternoon, and amused herself much 

 by listening to the drum, which she begged might be 

 permitted to play on the upper deck. As this spe- 

 cies of music, however, was not very agreeable in the 

 confined space of a ship, it was proposed that the in- 

 strument should be removed to the shade of some 

 tall trees on the shore, whither the whole party 



