Love and Marriage in Polynesia. 277 
to be present at the marriage and assist Jelik in 
receiving two or three other white men who 
were invited to be present. At the conclusion 
of the marriage ceremony—which was per¬ 
formed according to ancient custom, for the 
missionaries had not then succeeded in making 
any converts on Maduro — the bridegroom 
announced his intention of putting away his 
two other wives, whom he had hitherto treated 
with respect and affection. This, however, the 
young lady from Providence Island strenuously 
besought him not to do ; and although barely 
sixteen years of age, she made an eloquent 
appeal to her husband before the assembled 
guests, and declared that she would at once 
return to the protection of her former master’s 
wife rather than consent to such an injustice. 
Her extreme youth, she said, would not allow 
her to supersede in such a sudden and cruel 
manner two women who had never done her an 
injury ; she would rather dwell in accord with 
them under their joint husband’s roof and be 
taught by them in her wifely duties than subject 
them to an outrage and do violence to her own 
feelings. Her earnest appeal to her husband 
softened him, and he consented to retain his two 
