Dcportaiion of the Catholic Priests. 205 



most cordial welcome from a Belgian settler, the then Ameri- 

 can consul, Mr. Moelirenhout. 



In the course of an interview which Laval and Caret had 

 with the Queen, they remarked that they had only come to 

 teach the word of God, and presented the youthful and at 

 that period pretty-looking Queen Pomare with a silk shawl. 

 The Queen did not however seem disposed to accede to their 

 wishes, but ordered the laws of the country to be read before 

 them. The priests however declined listening to them, and 

 took their departure. 



A notification was hereupon conveyed to the two strangers 

 that the Queen could not permit them to stay any longer 

 upon the island, and a similar intimation was made to Mr. 

 Moelirenhout. As the schooner which had brought Laval and 

 Caret was preparing to set sail again, the opportunity was 

 seized to dismiss them by the same conveyance which had 

 landed them. They, meanwhile, had blockaded themselves 

 in a house, to which they refused all admission. The 

 schooner thereupon was detained for twenty-four hours, and 

 the (Queen's officers surrounded the house, awaiting the mo- 

 ment when the two missionaries were to leave the place. 

 They never made their appearance however. Ultimately 

 the officers of the law were compelled to tear off the roof 

 from the house, while others, forcibly seizing the priests, con- 

 veyed them with their paraphernalia on board the schooner, 

 which at once made sail, and carried them back to Gambier 

 Island, whence they had last come. Notwithstanding the 



