CRUISE OF THE PORPOISE. 295 



part of the rival chiefs, for their queen and her husband : the latter are 

 disposed to look upon the royal conduct as disgraceful, and as setting 

 an example highly derogatory to their own standing and that of the 

 chiefs and nation. They believe these difficulties to be ovi^ing to the 

 intervention of foreigners, who take every opportunity to set the 

 laws at defiance ; and since the visit of the Venus, Captain Du Petit 

 Thouars, foreigners have been still more active in taking advantage 

 of the difficulties that these natives get into. 



At the time the Porpoise visited Papieti, the queen was absent on 

 a visit to one of the other islands of the group, accompanied by a 

 large retinue of attendants, with nearly three hundred soldiers, dressed 

 in queer and uncouth uniforms, somewhat similar to what has already 

 been described. 



Since our first visit, it was remarked by the officers, that a more 

 efficient police had been established at Papieti : no sailors or riotous 

 persons were allowed to be abroad after eight o'clock, without a 

 written pass from the consul ; and in case of being found without 

 such a document, the offender was put in the stocks and kept there 

 until a fine of two dollars was paid. This regulation was found 

 necessary to preserve the peace of the village ; and was said to be 

 rigidly enforced. 



The American property that has visited the ports of Tahiti during 

 the last year, has, according to information derived from our consul, 

 amounted to upwards of five millions of dollars. 



Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold having completed the duties, 

 including the magnetic and chronometric observations he was charged 

 with in visiting Tahiti, obtained water, refreshed the crew, and took 

 his departure; but in consequence of the calms that prevailed, he 

 found much difficulty in leaving the port. 



Immediately on getting outside, they were influenced by a rapid 

 current, setting to the southward. For three or four days they had 

 very light winds or calms, and made but little progress on their route : 

 the weather was exceedingly warm. On the 3d of February, they 

 had a strong breeze from the northward and northwest; after this 

 had continued for two days, it hauled to the northeast. Several of 

 the crew were taken down with dysentery and fever. 



The trade-wind was found at this season of the year in latitude 

 13° S. ; and from what information I was able to gather, I am dis- 

 posed to believe that it cannot be calculated, upon during the months of 

 December, January, and February, south of latitude 14° S. 



On the 6th of February, they made Flint's Island, situated in 



