382 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
we most carefully avoided meddling with their civil and 
political affairs, except in a few instances, where we endea¬ 
voured to promote peace between contending parties. At 
present, however, it appears almost impossible for us, in 
every respect, to follow the same line of conduct. We have 
told the king and chiefs, that, being strangers, and having 
come to their country as teachers of the word of the true 
God, and the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, we will 
have nothing further to do with their civil concerns, than 
to give them good advice; and with that view several 
letters have passed between us and the king. We have 
advised him to call a general meeting of all the prin¬ 
cipal chiefs, and, with their assistance and approbation, 
adopt such laws and regulations as would tend to the 
good of the community, and the stability of his govern¬ 
ment ; and that in these things, if he desired it, we 
would give him the best advice in our power, and inform 
him of w^hat is contained in the word of God, and also of 
the laws and customs of our own country, and other civi¬ 
lized nations.’’ 
The first code of laws was that enacted in Tahiti in 
the year 1819^ it was prepared by the king and a few of 
the chiefs, with the advice and direction of the Mission¬ 
aries, especially Mr. Nott, whose prudence and caution 
cannot be too highly spoken of, and by whom it w'as 
almost framed. The code was remarkably simple and 
brief, including only eighteen articles. It was not alto¬ 
gether such as the Missionaries would have wished the 
nation to adopt, but it was perhaps better suited to the 
partial light the people at that time possessed, and to 
the peculiar disposition of Pomare. He was exceedingly 
jealous of his rights and prerogatives, and unwilling that 
the chiefs should assume the least control over his pro- 
