52 TAHITI AND EI MEO. 



in equal numbers. One of the oldest of the missionaries informed 

 me, that although he saw much change in the character and habits 

 of the people, he could perceive none in their apparent numbers. 



Tahiti does not appear to be afflicted by many diseases. Some 

 have been introduced by foreign ships, and among others, the venereal, 

 from which the natives suffer much, being in possession of no method 

 of arresting its ravages, and ignorant of the proper mode of treating 

 it. In connexion with this subject, the want of a physician as a part 

 of the missionary establishment, struck me as an instance of neglect 

 in its managers, and I was surprised to hear that the London Society 

 did not employ any medical men. From this cause, not only are the 

 natives deprived of the benefits which might so easily have been 

 conferred upon them, but the missionaries themselves are compelled 

 to pay, out of their private purses, for medical aid, when it can be 

 procured. They are even at times wholly without a physician. 

 This happened to be the case at the time of our arrival, when a 

 medical practitioner who had formerly resided on the island, had just 

 taken his departure. 



The effects of intoxication from ardent spirits and ava are said to 

 have swept off many of the inhabitants. Secondary syphilis is in 

 some cases severe, but their usual vegetable diet and simple mode of 

 living, together with frequent ablutions, tend to mitigate this dis- 

 ease. Its continued prevalence, as well as the severity of some of 

 the cases, are ascribable to the inordinate use of mercury, admi- 

 nistered by a physician who was accustomed to distribute it in 

 inordinate quantities among the affected, who were of course 

 ignorant of its nature and consequences. 



While lying at Papieti, we had an opportunity of seeing the 

 manner in which justice is administered in criminal cases. The 

 court was held in the Council House, an oblong building, in the 

 native style ; the alleged crime was assault with intention of rape ; 

 the judges were seated on mats, having Paofai, their chief, a little in 

 front of the rest ; and the audience sat or stood around. The culprit 

 was a petty chief, called Ta-ma-hau, a man of huge size, and 

 apparently somewhat of a bully ; he stood during the trial leaning 

 against one end of the house, with an air of cool indifference. His 

 accuser was a damsel not remarkable for personal beauty ; she sat 

 near the door among a number of other women. The witnesses 

 were patiently heard, and the matter argued, after which the six 

 judges severally gave their opinions and made remarks on the 



