PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
205 
to eat in the presence of so exalted a personage. As these distinctions, CHAP, 
however, had been removed upon the introduction of Christianity, there 
was an evident apprehension of giving offence to the assembled March, 
chiefs by such a display of ambition on the present occasion. The in- 
convenience which it was suggested would attend the observance of 
the custom in this instance, and the opposition afforded by the pre- 
cepts of the missionaries to any such mode of displaying the royal pre- 
rogative, relieved us from our dilemma. A cloud of discontent hung 
for a short time on the countenance of our royal guest, but it was dis- 
pelled by the first breeze of mirth, and the party appeared to enjoy 
greatly the remainder of their visit. 
It is by no means surprising that the chiefs should wish to adhere 
to such of their old customs as constituted the principal if not the 
only distinction between them and their vassals. Should they be de- 
prived of these, and should the superstitions, by means of which they 
awed the lower classes of the community, be brought into contempt, 
they would be left with no other superiority than that confened by 
bodily strength ; for in education, and not unfrequently even in wealth, 
their advantages were very limited. Pomarree, in framing his laws to 
meet the new circumstances of his subjects, seems to have been too 
zealous in pressing his reforms in this as well as in many other points. 
It would be ridiculous to advocate the perpetuation of customs fit only 
for the darkest ages of barbarism ; but it might probably not be unwise 
to retain in the earher progress towards improvement such as are least 
objectionable, particularly in a country like Otaheite, where their ob- 
servance had been enforced with the greatest rigour. The effect pro- 
duced by the abohtion of that most detestable of all their pagan rites, 
human sacrifice, is noticed by Mr, Ellis in his Polynesian Researches, 
to have endangered the royal authority *. 
In the course of the day several chiefs came on board, dressed in 
white shirts and straw hats ; and were all remarkable for their extra- 
ordinary height and noble appearance. Whether this superiority of 
* He says (vol. ii. p. 378.) that “ many, free from the restraint it (human sacrifice) 
W imposed, seemed to refuse almost all lawful obedience and rightful support to the 
king.” 
