196 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAPTEK IX. 
Proceedings at Otaheite — The Ship visited by the Queen Regent, the Royal Family, and 
several Chiefs — Short Account of the former since Captain Cook’s Visit — Successful Issue 
of a Dispute with the Government respecting the Detention of a trading Vessel — Visit to 
the Queen Regent’s House — Present Coudiiion of the Chiefs and of the Inhabitants — 
Superstitions — Trial of Natives for Theft of the Ship’s Stores — The King visits the 
Ship — Lake and Morai of Mirapaye — Dance exhibited by a Party of New Zealanders 
— Considerations on the Effect of the Introduction of Christianity. 
CHAP. The diversity of feature of the romantic island of Otaheite formed 
a strong contrast with the monotonous appearance of the coral forma- 
^arch, tions ; the variety of hill and valley, and of woods and rivers in the one, 
after the sameness of flat, sterile, parched-up surface in the other ; and 
the glassy smoothness of the harbours around us, opposed to the tur- 
bulent shores we had recently quitted, were gratifying in the extreme, 
and impressed us most forcibly with the truth of the observations of our 
predecessors, who have spoken of the scenery in the highest terms of 
commendation. 
As I proposed to remain here a few weeks to recruit the health of 
the crew, who were somewhat debilitated, and to prepare the ship for her 
voyage to the northward, she was moved to an inner anchorage oppo- 
site a small village called Toanoa, and there secured by a cable fastened 
to some trees on one side, and by a bower anchor dropped at the edge 
of a coral reef on the other. This reef forms one side of the har- 
bour ; which, though small, possesses several advantages over the more 
spacious one of Papiete generally resorted to, and of which the superior 
freshness and salubrity of its atmosphere are not the most incon- 
siderable. 
Previous to entering upon a relation of our proceedings with the 
natives, it must be understood that the short time we remained, and our 
