546 INTELLIGENCE MAUe's LETTEH. NoV. 



set of children I never saw. A hymn excellently, or, I ought 

 perhaps to say, prettily sung, ended their attendance. 



Returning by way of the church, I saw Hitote, his brother, 

 and other chiefs, engaged in eager discussion. Mr. Pritchard 

 and I went in : " You are just come in time," said they, "we are 

 disputing about the lightning conductors on board the Beagle, 

 and cannot determine whether they end in the ship's hold, or 

 whether they go through her bottom, into the water."" Mr. 

 Pritchard explained : a momentary pause ensued — each seemed 

 trying to understand the puzzling subject ; when a shrewd old 

 man, hitherto a quiet listener, remarked — " you white men are 

 wonderfully clever, you know and do most things, I wish some 

 of you (passing his hand over his chin in a drolly rueful man- 

 ner) I wish some of you would tell us how to rid our faces of 

 these troublesome beards !" (He had just been shaved). 



The rapidity with which intelligence is communicated among 

 savage, or partially civilised nations, has often been remarked : 

 but I do not remember meeting with an explanation, till 

 Mr. Nott told me it was passed verbally — from one to ano- 

 ther — each man calling to his neighbour. No method could 

 be speedier, where a population is numerous ; as at Otaheite or 

 New Zealand, when Cook was there. 



In the course of the morning I waited upon the queen to 

 inform her that the Beagle was then going out of the port ; and 

 that I waited only for her commands, and the letter she had pro- 

 mised : upon which she sent for her secretary and the chiefs; 

 when we left her for a time. Two of the persons who had been 

 on board our vessel the previous evening, sent me letters this 

 morning, which are so peculiar and interesting, in many points 

 of view, that I here insert them. 



Translation of a letter from ' Mare,' one of the seven supreme 

 judges of Otaheite; written in a round distinct hand, in his 

 own language, and directed to me. 



« Tahiti, Nov. 26, 1835. 

 " To you the officer of King William ! 



" May the peace of God be with you. This is what I have 

 to say to you, my dear friend. I praise you with grateful feel- 

 ings in my heart for your kindness to me, an insignificant man, 



