PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 295 



limits of this work prevent my subjoining an ad- c ^ p * 

 mirable representation of it by Mr. Smyth, ^v— . 



The prisoner being brought up, the aava read I JjJ^" 

 certain passages from the penal code, and then ac- 

 cused the prisoner of having stolen a gown from a 

 European resident. He instantly pleaded guilty to 

 the charge, and thereby saved a great deal of trouble. 

 He was then admonished against the repetition of 

 evil practices, and fined four hogs, two to the king, 

 and two to the person from whom the property had 

 been stolen. Bail is not necessary in Otaheite ; and 

 the prisoner, consequently, was allowed to go where 

 he pleased, which of course was to such of his friends 

 as were most likely to supply him with a hog. 

 Three other persons were then put to the bar, and 

 fined for a breach of our seventh commandment. 

 The young lady, who had sinned with several per. 

 sons, but two of whom only were detected, smil- 

 ingly heard herself sentenced to make twenty yards 

 of cloth, and the two men to furnish six posts each, 

 for a building that was about to be erected at Pa- 

 piete. In default of payment transgressors are con- 

 demned to labour. 



Before we sailed, a more serious theft was com- 

 mitted on the stores of the ship, which had been 

 placed under a shed, and likewise on the wearing 

 apparel of one of the officers who was ill on shore. 

 Immediately the aavas (policemen) heard of it, they 

 were on the alert, and arrested two men, on whom 

 suspicion fell, from their having slept in the place 

 the night of the robbery, and absconded early in the 

 morning. The news of the offence spread with its 

 accustomed rapidity among uncivilized tribes ; and 

 various were the reports in circulation, as to the 



