216 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, of the head, with the variegated tresses of hair mingling with the oakum 
curls upon his shoulders, produced, as may be imagined, a ludicrous 
Mardi, effect; and I regret that I am prevented from subjoining an admirable 
representation of it by Mr. Smyth. 
The prisoner being brought up, the aava read certain passages 
from the penal code, and then accused the prisoner of having stolen a 
gown from a European resident. He instantly pleaded guilty to the 
charge, and thereby saved a great deal of trouble. He was then admo- 
nished against the repetition of evil practices, and fined four hogs, two 
to the king, and two to the person from whom the property had been 
stolen. Bail is not necessary in Otaheite ; and the prisoner, conse- 
quently, was allowed to go where he pleased, and he proceeded to such 
of his friends as were most likely to supply him with a hog. Three 
other persons were then put to the bar, and fined for a breach of our 
seventh commandment. The young lady, who had sinned with several 
persons, but two of whom only were detected, smilingly heard herself 
sentenced to make twenty yards of cloth, and the two men to furnish 
six posts each, for a building that was about to be erected at Papiete. 
In default of payment transgressors are condemned to labour. 
Before we sailed, a more serious theft was committed on the stores 
of the ship, which had been placed under a shed, and likewise on the 
wearing apparel of one of the officers who was ill on shore. Immedi- 
ately the aavas (policemen) heard of it, they were on the alert, and 
arrested two men, on whom suspicion fell, from their having slept in 
the place the night of the robbery, and absconded early in the morning- 
The news of the offence spread with its accustomed rapidity among 
uncivilised tribes ; and various were the reports in circulation, as to the 
manner in which I intended to visit the misdemeanour. The prisoners 
at first acknowledged their guilt, but afterwards denied it ; and declared 
they had been induced to make the confession from the threats of the 
aavas who apprehended them. Nothing was found upon them, and 
no person could be brought forward as a direct witness of the fact ; so 
that their guilt rested on circumstantial evidence alone. I was, how- 
ever, anxious to bring the offenders to trial, as all the sails and the stores 
of the ship w^ere on shore, and at the mercy of the inhabitants ; and 
