442 TAHITI CHAP. 



Sunday 22nd. — The harbour of Papiete, where the queen 

 resides, may be considered as the capital of the island : it is also 

 the seat of government, and the chief resort of shipping. 

 Captain Fitz Roy took a party there this day to hear divine 

 service, first in the Tahitian language, and afterwards in our own. 

 Mr. Pritchard, the leading missionary in the island, performed 

 the service. The chapel consisted of a large airy framework of 

 wood ; and it was filled to excess by tidy, clean people, of all 

 ages and both sexes. I was rather disappointed in the apparent 

 degree of attention ; but I believe my expectations were raised 

 too high. At all events the appearance was quite equal to that 

 in a country church in England. The singing of the hymns 

 was decidedly very pleasing ; but the language from the pulpit, 

 although fluently delivered, did not sound well : a constant 

 repetition of words, like ^' tata ta^ mata mai,'' rendered it 

 monotonous. After English service, a party returned on foot 

 to Matavai. It was a pleasant walk, sometimes along the 

 sea-beach and sometimes under the shade of the many beautiful 

 trees. 



About two years ago, a small vessel under English colours 

 was plundered by some of the inhabitants of the Low Islands 

 which were then under the dominion of the Queen of Tahiti. 

 It was believed that the perpetrators were instigated to this act 

 by some indiscreet laws issued by her majesty. The British 

 government demanded compensation ; which was acceded to, 

 and a sum of nearly three thousand dollars was agreed to be 

 paid on the first of last September. The Commodore at Lima 

 ordered Captain Fitz Roy to inquire concerning this debt, and 

 to demand satisfaction if it were not paid. Captain Fitz Roy 

 accordingly requested an interview with the Queen Pomarre, 

 since famous from the ill-treatment she has received from the 

 French ; and a parliament was held to consider the question, at 

 which all the principal chiefs of the island, and the queen, were 

 assembled. I will not attempt to describe what took place, 

 after the interesting account given by Captain Fitz Roy. The 

 money, it appeared, had not been paid ; perhaps the alleged 

 reasons were rather equivocal ; but otherwise I cannot sufficiently 

 express our general surprise at the extreme good sense, the 

 reasoning powers, moderation, candour, and prompt resolution, 

 which were displayed on all sides. I believe we all left the 



