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POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
and serious engagements by which the nation agreed to 
regulate their social intercourse^ should be ratified in a 
spot where they were led to expect a more than ordinary 
participation of the Divine benediction. During the 
forenoon^ the chiefs and people of Tahiti and Eimeo 
assembled in the Royal Chapel, and about the middle of 
the day the king and his attendants entered. The 
Missionaries were also present; but, regarding it as a 
civil engagement, attended only as spectators. The king, 
however, requested Mr. Crook to solicit the Divine 
blessing on the object of the meeting. He therefore 
read a suitable portion of the sacred volume, and implored 
the sanction of the King of kings upon the proceedings 
that were to follow. Nothing could be more appropriate 
than thus acknowledging the Power by whom kings 
reign, and seeking His blessing upon those engagements 
by which their public conduct was to be regulated. The 
Divine benediction having been thus sought, the king, 
who had previously taken his station in the central 
pulpit, arose, and, after viewing for a few moments the 
thousands of his subjects that were gathered round him, 
commenced the interesting proceedings of the day, by 
addressing Tati, the brother and successor of the late 
Upufara, who was the leader of the idolatrous and rebel 
army defeated in November, 1815. ‘^^Tati,’" said the 
king, what is your desire ? what can I do for you ? 
Tati, who sat nearly opposite the pulpit, arose and said. 
Those are what we want—the papers you hold in your 
hand—the laws; give them to us, that we may have them 
in our hands, that we may regard them, and do what is 
right.’" The king then addressed himself to Utami, the 
good chief of Teoropaa, and in an affectionate manner 
said, Utami, and what is your desire?” He replied, 
