276 PAUMOTU GROUP AND 



to more caution in future. This, it seems to me, is rather an absurd 

 argument as respects a community that have been acting under a 

 constitution and laws, with their pious teachers, for the last fifteen or 

 twenty years. 



These disturbances manifestly arise from want of respect, on the 

 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 owing 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, in- 

 cluding 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 con- 

 tinued 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 disposed to 



