1835. LAWLEIl CONSULS. .539 



been living at Tahiti about three months : he came from the 

 Sandwich Islands. Of his previous conduct we can say nothing. 

 We much wish that a British ship of war would come frequently 

 to Tahiti to take to their own lands these bad foreigners that 

 trouble lis. It is useless for us to depend upon the consul at 

 the Sandwich Islands. We have long known that we can 

 obtain no assistance from him.* 



" We wish to do our duty towards you Britons. You are 

 powerful and rich — but we are like weak children. 

 " On behalf of Pom are, the queen. 



Apaapa, chief secretary." 

 " Paofai (close to Papiete), 

 Tahiti, 7th January 1832." 



This interesting letter needs no apology for its insertion at 

 full length. Besides explaining Mare's application, it helps to 

 give an idea of the state of Otaheite ; and it appeals to our 

 better feelings in a persuasive manner. 



* The British government has since appointed Mr. Pritchard to act as 

 Consul for the Society and Friendly Islands. 



Note (a) referred to in page 507- 



That the electric agent (whether fire or fluid) goes upward from the 

 earth to the atmosphere, as well as in the contrary direction, showing 

 that a mutual action takes place between air and land, many facts might 

 be brought to prove : I will only mention two. 



" On October 25th we had a v^ry remarkable storm : the sky was all in 

 flames. I employed part of the night in observing it, and had the plea- 

 sure of seeing three ascending thunderbolts ! They rose from the sea like 

 an arrow; two of them in a perpendicular direction, and the third at an 

 angle of about 75 degrees." — (De Lamanon, in the Voyage of La Perouse, 

 vol. iii. pp. 431-2). 



While H.M. corvette Hind, was lying at anchor off Zante, in 1823, 

 in twelve fathoms water, an electric shock came in through her hawse, 

 along the chain-cable, by which she was riding. Two men, who were sit- 

 ting on the cable, before the bitts, were knocked down — felt the effects of 

 the shock about half an hour — but were not seriously hurt. A noise like 

 that of a gun startled every one on board ; yet there was neither smell, 

 nor smoke, nor any other visible effect. The sky was heavily clouded over ; 

 small rain was falling; and there was distant thunder occasion;illy, but no 

 visible lightning. The cable was hanging slack, almost' up and down.' I 

 witnessed this mvsclf. 



