IN THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS, 163 



fine sinnet. The Tahitians are perhaps a shade lighter in color than 

 the Sandwich Islanders ; much more warlike and spirited, and, unlike 

 the latter, the highest chiefs are uniformly dressed in the simple native 

 costume. Even the Queen, Pomare* excepting on State occasions, is 

 clad in a single garment of calico or tapa, and wears neither shoes nor 

 stockings. Shortly after my arrival, I called, in company with the Amer- 

 ican Consul, Mr. Moerenhaut, upon her Majesty. When we passed 

 through the rustic wicket gate in front of her simple habitation, I ob- 

 served about half a score of women playing at quoits before the door 

 of the house. One of these ran hastily, upon our entrance, into the 

 cottage. Mr. Moerenhaut whispered me that this was the Queen. We 

 stepped into the house, and I was introduced, by the Consul, in due 

 form to Pomare. She had just time to seat herself upon a pile of mats 

 and to call up some portion of the dignity " which doth hedge a 

 queen," when we stood before her. She received us, however, with 

 more ease than 1 had expected, considering the undignified nature of 

 her employment a moment previously, and conversed in the native lan- 

 guage with the Consul, for perhaps half an hour, without a particle of 

 embarrassment. 



I found the language of the Tahitians so similar to that of the Sand- 

 wich Islanders, that I was enabled also to converse with her Majesty 

 without much difficulty. She seemed somewhat astonished at this, be- 

 ing aware that the present was my first visit to her island. Pomare is 

 married to a common native, whom she selected, doubtless, on account 

 of his good looks. He has no power whatever, and is not in the least 

 degree burthened with the cares of Sovereignty. Indeed, should Po- 

 mare die, he would immediately return to the ranks. The only title 

 he receives from natives as well as foreigners is that of the " Queen'^s 

 husband.^^ 



I passed my time while at Tahiti, chiefly in procuring specimens of 

 the native birds, of which there is a great number and considerable va- 

 riety. I had also some very excellent spotting in the extensive forests 

 of the Island. The common chicken is there in great abundance, in a 

 state of nature; and, in company with natives as guides, I enjoyed sev- 

 eral days capital shooting. 



Another species of enjoyment, however, which the multitude can 

 perhaps better appreciate, I found in going out alone in a canoe and 



* Pomare is properly a man's, and not a woman's name. Pomare was the name 

 of the father of the present queen. At his death, and on her accession to the 

 throne, she assumed his name, adding to it the word wahint (a woman.) She now 

 calls herself Pomare wahinc — the Woman Pomare, 



