INDUSTRY DISPLAYED. 55 



of our native land, and from her commander 

 and officers we received many polite and 

 valuable attentions. The presence of a man- 

 of-war in their port, seemed to produce any 

 thing but a joyous effect on the natives ; since 

 they derive but little amusement or profit 

 from a ship of this character, and the rigour of 

 her discipline is not at all adapted to their 

 taste. 



There was at this time, however, an unusual 

 degree of bustle and activity amongst the natives 

 on the coast, the greater number being em- 

 ployed in gathering bark for the manufacture 

 of native cloth ; while, in a large shed at Papeete, 

 more than fifty young females, their heads be- 

 decked with flowers, assembled daily to make 

 the welkin ring with the sound of then* cloth 

 mallets. They all told me that they were work- 

 ing for the queen ; and I imagined they were 

 preparing some customary tribute, until I was 

 informed by the European residents, that such 

 display invariably attends the presence of a 

 foreign ship-of-war in the port, and is intended 

 to impress the naval officers with a favourable 

 opinion of native industry. 



Previous to taking leave of this island, which 

 must be deemed the head-quarters of British 



