50 TAHITI AND EIMEO. 



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 evidence, to which Paofai listened in an attentive 

 and dignified manner, expressing, as occasion demanded, his assent or 

 dissent. He then pronounced the verdict of the court, by which the 

 prisoner was acquitted, but did not dismiss him without a brief and 

 merited admonition. It appeared, that although not guilty of the crime 

 alleged, he had while intoxicated addressed indecent language to his 

 accuser. 



Cultivation has undergone a great change within a few years, from 

 the introduction of the guava, which has overrun the lower plain ; the 

 pasturage has not only suffered, but to its destructive effects are 

 attributed many evils. Ten years prior to our visit, about which time 

 the guava was introduced by the missionaries, the plain, from the sea 

 to the base of the hills, was covered with verdure ; and now it is over- 

 run with an almost impenetrable thicket, before which all other vege- 

 tation disappears. I am inclined to think, that although this tree is 

 now looked upon by the natives as a great curse, it will in time be 

 beneficial to them, and cause them to become industrious, when they 

 are obliged to get rid of it to make room for their sugar-cane, cotton, 

 and indigo plantations ; which products succeed remarkably well, can 

 be raised at small cost, and will before many years be in great demand. 



The cocoa-nut trees were also reported to have been decreasing, but 

 our inquiries did not confirm this statement. 



The manner of ascending the trees by the natives, has been fre- 

 quently described, but can scarcely be imagined until witnessed ; the 

 feat is performed by leaping without any cessation, even in climbing 

 the highest tree ; the body of the tree being rough or composed of 

 rings, affords some hold for the thong which spans the tree between the 

 feet ; at every jump, the body is thrown entirely free from the tree. 



The bread-fruit tree is also said to have decreased, and this is no 

 doubt the case; the seeds are said to be often abortive at Tahiti, for 

 which reason the cultivation in this way has been neglected of late, and 

 the plants raised in other modes have become less productive in conse- 



