YOUNG KING POMAREH. 165 
reason, they resolved to confirm the title of the 
young Pomareh, by a solemn coronation ; and 
to strengthen his party, all the tributary 
princes of the whole Archipelago were invited 
to be present at the ceremony. 
The preparations for this solemnity had long 
been carrying on, and as it was now soon to 
take place, nearly all the kings, with numerous 
suites, had arrived in Tahaiti. Among them 
was the powerful ruler of Ulietea, the grand- 
father of the infant sovereign ; he had brought 
with him several hundred warriors, many of 
them armed with muskets. 
We wished much to have been present at 
this first coronation of a King of the Society 
Islands; but as our time would not permit it, 
I obtained from Mr. Tyrman an account of 
the order and plan of the ceremony. 
The kings, princes, members of parliament, 
and other high officers, were to assemble at the 
residence of the Queen, and thence in a regular 
procession, arranged according to their several 
ranks and dignities, and headed by the young 
King and the Missionaries, to pass to an ap- 
pointed open space, where a throne of stone had 
