Native Fete to the French Governor. 231 



had been seven months in office, and had already made the 

 the circuit of the island, visiting all the districts, was, however, 

 not yet welcomed with the customary festivities of the inha- 

 bitants of Faaa. This solemnity accordingly passed off with 

 all pomp on 22nd February. By eight a. m. some twenty 

 cavaliers had assembled in front of the Grovernment Palace, 

 whence, with the Governor at their head, and accompanied by 

 the native militia, also mounted, they took the road to Faaa. 

 Only one lady, Madame de la Richerie, wife of the Com- 

 missaire Imperial, accompanied the cavalcade. On our arrival 

 at Faaa we found the native females, attired in their gayest 

 national dress, formed into line, and the men, partly clothed 

 in the European manner, partly in the " Pareu,'''' a broad 

 scarf of printed muslin wound round the loins, shaking their 

 variegated plumes, and carrying banners and flags of bark 

 specially prepared for the feast, some Pandanus leaves being 

 also handed to the guests. 



As soon as the Governor had taken his seat in the verandah 

 of the large and elegant residence of the chieftain, or warden 

 of the district (for in Tahiti every office, with all rights per- 

 taining thereto, descends among the female members of the 

 chief's family likewise),* a number of girls, dressed all in white 



* According to the laws of Tahiti, whenever the entire male descendants of a chief 

 have become extinct, his eldest female offspring becomes chief of the district, sits as 

 such in the legislative assembly, and has a voice in the administration of justice. At 

 present there are five chieftainesses, who are members of the Tahitian parliament. 

 Their husbands have no political influence whatever, except as the husbands of these 

 ladies ! 



