536 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
In order that the ceremonies^ observed on this occa¬ 
sion, might be performed in the presence of the inhabi¬ 
tants, the greater part of whom were expected to attend, 
a stone platform was raised, nearly sixty feet square, 
upon which another smaller platform was erected, where 
the coronation was to take place. 
When the order of the procession was arranged, it 
advanced towards the place, preceded by two native 
girls, who strewed the path with flowers. Mahine, the 
chief of Huahine, and nominally one of the judges of 
Tahiti, carried a large Bibl 6 , and was attended by the 
deputation from the Missionary Society, who were then 
at Tahiti, and Messrs. Nott and Henry 5 the rest of the 
Missionaries followed. Then came the supreme judges, 
three abreast; Utami, the chief of Atehuru, bearing a 
copy of the Tahitian code of laws. Three other judges 
followed; and Tati, the chief of Papara, walking in the 
centre, carried the crown. The young king, seated on a 
chair, was next borne in the procession, by four young 
chieftains, an equal number of chiefs’ sons supporting 
the canopy over his head; his mother and his sister 
walking on one side, and his aunts on the other. His 
brother-in-law walked immediately behind, and was fol¬ 
lowed by Tamatoa, the king of Raiatea, and the members 
of the royal family. The governors, judges of districts, 
and magistrates, walking four abreast, closed the pro¬ 
cession. 
When they reached the place of coronation, the wives, 
children, and friends of the Missionaries, who had also 
walked in the procession, sat on the platform. The king 
was seated in his chair; in the centre before him, on 
small tables, the crown, the Bible, and the code of laws, 
were placed. Those who were to take part in the trans- 
