Character otitic inhabitants.— Schm.l at Paphtl. T t II ! T 1 Council of Hie clijefs.— Paofui, llie chief Judge, 

 totnplftinu of the American comul. 1 AMI 11. Influence of the uiiwlouarlci. 



chiefs tier! around their nocks. N "thing can ap- 

 pear more outrt than they do in these habiliments, 

 and I was at a loss to conceive, how they conld, in 

 particular, have been induced to adopt a covering 

 for the head, which atf'ords no protection from the 

 sun, and is in consequence bo ilbaduptod to the 

 climate. 



A Tahitian changes his residence without diffi- 

 culty or inconvenience; food is every whereto bo 

 had in abundance, and lodgings never enter into 

 bin calculation. While the squadron wan at Ma- 

 tavai Hay, the number of those who appeared to 

 inhabit its shores would have given a very erro- 

 neous estimate of the usual population. They were 

 assembled from every part of the island, and the 

 riyht of occupying each spare nook in the houses 

 of the permanent settlers seems to be universally 

 admitted. When this resource fails, they are to 

 Ik- seen beneath trees, or upon the beach, within a 

 few feet of the water's edge, sleeping as soundly, 

 although without any covering, as if tin y were be- 

 neath their own roofs. 



In our whole intercourse with the inhabitants of 

 Tahiti, we did not hear of a single act of theft, al- 

 though there were innumerable opportunities for 

 its commission, without the possibility of immediate 

 detection. Tle-v seemed always in a good humour, 

 gay, happy, and cheerful ; nor did I witness a 

 -ingle quarrel among all I he crowds that were as- 

 sembled at Point Venus, during our slay. They 

 are, however, inveterate beggars. 



At tho invitation of Mr. I'ritehard, ! visited the 

 school under his direction at Papieti. This gentle- 

 man was, a few years since, a missionary, but now 

 holds the station of Her Hritannic Majesty's consul. 

 He has not, however, abandoned all his mission- 

 ary duties. 



The school is held in tho church, a large frame 

 building, much like a New rjicdund ineeting-house. 

 it has numerous windows, a large gallery, and pews 

 capable of containing a great number of people. 

 All who were present were well dressed, and the 

 assemblage, except from the colour of their skius, 

 could have been, with difficulty, distinguished from 

 a Sunday school in the United Stall's. 



The exhibition of the schools did not surprise me 

 so much as the fact that few natives ore to be met 

 with who cauimt both read and write. This was 

 not confined to the younger part of the population, 

 hut was itii»" oven til" (hose advanced in years. 

 1 also learned that they had schools among them- 

 selves, and that parents were well aware of the 

 advantages attendant on sending their children to 

 them. In these schools great pains are takou to 

 inculcate cleanly and industrious habits, with sound 

 moral and religious principles. 



The hours of attendance are confined to the fore- 

 noun, and during these tho schools are crowded. 

 The parents are unwilling that their children 

 should be confined for a longer time. 



Our consul, Mr. Bladder, had made complaints 

 to me, as noon as 1 arrived, of the coinluct of the 

 queen and government, and asked my inter- 

 ference. The charges consisted in the following 

 items : 



L The seizure of an American whale-boat and 

 ill- treatment of the crow. 



■2. Tli.it tines had been unjustly imposed on Ame- 

 rican seamen. 



3, The refusal to apprehend deserters from 



American ships, or to provide a place for their 

 safe keeping. 



4. The evasion of a promise to provide a 

 place for tho transaction of tho consular busi- 

 ness. 



In consequence of these complaints, I had imme- 

 diately requested that a council of the chiefs might 

 be held, and the 1 7th September was appointed lor 

 the purpose, On this day 1 ordered all the officers 

 that could be Hjmred from the vessels to attend. 

 Captain Hudson and myself set out at an early 

 hour, accompanied by several boats. We passed 

 down through the reefs, and reached Papieti at ten 

 o'clock, where we were joined by our consul, and 

 in his company proceeded to the building which 

 has been mentioned as the scene of the exhibition 

 of tho schools. Here wc were received by Mr. 

 I'ritehard, who politely showed us to the seats we 

 were to occupy. He then called the names of 

 the chkfs, and each answering in his turn, took 

 his seat on the side of the building opposite to 

 US. 



The meeting being ready for business, I read 

 from a paper a list of the grievances complained 

 of. Thus was translated sentence by sentence \>\ 

 a Mr. Darling. When 1 had finished, Faufai a 

 chief, who holds the office of chief judge, appeared 

 to make a reply. He began by apologizing for the 

 absence of the queen, caused by her approaching 

 confinement, and then requested a copy of the 

 pa|>er which had been read, in order that it might 

 be considered and atiswered. He stated that it in- 

 cluded t nam points to be decided upon and 



answered at once, but promised that the nutter 

 should be examined, and the business concluded as 

 speedily as possible. 



This request was so reasonable that I at once 

 assented to it. 1 thought tho proposed mode far 

 better, and it was mnre agreeable to me than a 

 public discussion would have been, in which confu- 

 sion could hardly be avoided. 1 therefore broke up 

 the meeting, after stating thai i should look for a 

 satisfactory reply on my coming in the Vincenncs 

 to Papieti. 



Many of I he chiefs seemed disposed to act cor- 

 rectly and do justice, at least they repeatedly ex- 

 pressed their good intentions. It was also evident 

 l>i me, that their minds were greatly relieved by 

 the moderation of the demands, for they had feared 

 that these were to be of some extraordinary kind, 

 and might perhaps include a claim for heavy 

 damages. Indeed, since the large contribution 

 levi. d >>u this, island by the French, the government 

 has entertaine i apprehensions, nnd dreads the 

 arrival of men-of-war. These fears are taken ad- 

 vantage of by many ill-disposed residents, who omit 

 no opportunity to practise upon their alarms, and 

 to threaten them with foreign interference. 



Much complaint has been made of the influence 

 which the missionaries, and Mr. I'ritehard tu par- 

 ticular, exercise over the government of Tahiti. 

 They have, unquestionably, great influence; but I 

 am satisfied that they are justly entitled to it. 

 Indeed I cannot but consider it as part of their 

 dill) , nay, the great object of their mission, to ac- 

 quire and exercise a salutary control over tlx ir 

 converts, both of high mid low degree. My own 

 observations satisfied me that this control iH exerted 

 soMy fur the purpose of fulfilling the laudable ob- 

 ject for which they were sent. It is possible that 



