RUYAL VISIT TO THE BEAGLE. 195 



The chiefs and people resolved to subscribe and 

 complete the sum which was wanting : Captain 

 Fitz Roy urged that it was hard that their private 

 property should be sacrificed for the crimes of dis- 

 tant islanders. , They replied that they were grate- 

 ful for his consideration, but that Pomarre was 

 their queen, and that they were determined to help 

 her in this her difficulty. This resolution and its 

 prompt execution, for a book was opened early 

 the next morning, made a perfect conclusion to 

 this very remarkable scene of loyalty and good 

 feeling. 



After the main discussion was ended, several of 

 the chiefs took the opportunity of asking Captain 

 Fitz Roy many intelligent questions on internation- 

 al customs and laws relating to the treatment of 

 ships and foreigners. On some points, as soon as 

 the decision was made, the law was issued verbal- 

 ly on the spot. This Tahitian parliament lasted 

 for several hours, and when it was over Captain 

 Fitz Roy invited Queen Pomarre to pay the Bea- 

 gle a visit. 



November 25th. — In the evening four boats were 

 sent for her majesty ; the ship was dressed with 

 flags, and the yards manned on her coming on 

 board. She was accompanied by most of the 

 chiefs. The behaviour of all was very proper : 

 they begged for nothing, and seemed much pleas- 

 ed with Captain Fitz Roy's presents. The queen 

 is a large, awkward woman, without any beauty, 

 grace, or dignity. She has only one royal attribute, 

 a perfect immoveability of expression under all 

 circumstances, and that rather a sullen one. The 

 rockets were most admired; and a deep "Oh!" 

 could be heard from the shore, all round the dark 

 bay, after each explosion. The sailors' songs were 

 also much admired, and the queen said she thought 



