64 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
residence of foreigners. The inhabitants of Tahiti had 
never seen any European females or children^ and were 
consequently filled with amazement arid delight^ when 
the wives and children of the Missionaries landed. 
Several times during the first days of their residence on 
shore, large parties arrived from different places in front 
of the house, requesting that the white women and chil- 
dren^ would come to the door and shew themselves. 
The chiefs and people were not satisfied with giving 
them the large and commodious Fare Beritani (British 
House,) as they called the one they had built for Bligh, 
but readily and cheerfully ceded to Captain Wilson and 
the Missionaries, in an official and formal manner, the 
whole district of Matavai, in which their habitation was 
situated. The late Pomare and his queen, with Otoo his 
father, and Idia his mother, and the most influential per¬ 
sons in the nation, were present, and Haamanemane, an 
aged chief of Raiatea, and chief priest of Tahiti, was the 
principal agent for the natives on the occasion. The ac¬ 
companying plate, representing this singular transaction, 
is taken from an original painting in the possession of 
Mrs. Wilson, relict of the late Captain Wilson. It 
exhibits, not only the rich luxuriance of the scenery, 
but the complexion, expression, dress, and tatauing 
of the natives, with remarkable fidelity and spirit. 
The two figures on men’s shoulders are the late king 
and queen. Near the queen on the right stands Peter 
the Swede, their interpreter, and behind him stands 
Idia, the mother of the king. The person seated on the 
right hand is Paitia, the chief of the district^ behind him 
stand Mr. and Mrs. Henry, Mr. Jefferson, and others. The 
principal person on this side is Captain Wilson; between 
him and his nephew Captain W. Wilson, stands a child 
