POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
389 
Naturally violent and merciless under a sense of injury, 
we often found them too severe towards offenders; and 
while we occasionally interceded on behalf of those whose 
punishment appeared greater than their crime, we lost no 
opportunity of conveying just and humane, as well as 
scriptural ideas on matters of jurisprudence, without, 
however, interfering with their proceedings, or counte¬ 
nancing the misdeeds of those we might recommend to 
mercy. 
The new laws had now been nearly three years estab¬ 
lished in Tahiti and Eimeo. Those of Raiatea, Tahaa, 
and Barabora, had also been for more than twelve months 
in operation among the inhabitants of these islands.— 
The chiefs of Huahine had virtually made the latter 
the basis of their administration of justice, but though 
acting upon them, no code had yet been officially promul¬ 
gated. 
They had already applied to us for assistance in pre¬ 
paring the laws for the island under their dominion.— 
This we had cheerfully rendered to the best of our 
ability, at the same time recommending them still to 
defer their public enactments until they had deliberately 
observed the effect of those already in force among the 
inhabitants of the adjacent islands. It was also proper 
to obtain the sanction of the queen’s sister, then residing 
at Tahiti, who is nominally the sovereign of Huahine, 
the government of the island having been formerly pre¬ 
sented to her by Mahine, the resident and hereditary 
chieftain. This grant, which transpired several years 
before any of the parties embraced Christianity, has often 
occasioned inconvenience. The internal government of 
the island has always been maintained by the resident 
chiefs, but in all matters materially affecting the people, 
