POMARE AND AIMATA. 287 
was engaged to convey us to the Sandwich Islands. 
While we were preparing for our departure, viz. in 
the month of December, 1822, a marriage took 
place between Pomare, the young chief of Tahaa, 
and Aimata, the only daughter of the late king of 
Tahiti. The parties met at Huahine, which was 
midway between the residence of the families to 
which they respectively belonged. Young Pomare 
had received his name, as a mark of special favour, 
from the king of Tahiti. 
More than a week before his intended bride 
arrived from Tahiti, Pomare sailed from Tahaa, 
and landed at Fare, where he was entertained with 
the attention and respect suited to his rank and 
prospects, by the chiefs of Huahine. It was not, 
however, at that time supposed that his consort 
would become the queen of Tahiti, as her brother, 
with whom her father had left the government, 
was then living. 
In the month of December, Aimata, accom¬ 
panied by her mother and aunt, arrived at Hua¬ 
hine, on board the Queen Charlotte, a brig be¬ 
longing to the king. The afternoon of the day 
on which the vessel anchored was fixed on for her 
landing, and introduction to her future husband. 
We walked down to the settlement, to witness 
the meeting of the youthful pair. A small open 
house, belonging to the governor, was the place 
appointed for their first interview. When w r e 
reached the spot, we beheld the young chieftain, 
who, for his age, was remarkably stout, dressed in 
full native costume, with a large purau, and a 
flowing tiputa; he wore, also, an English beaver 
hat. He was seated at one end of the building on 
an iri, or native seat, waiting with gravity of ap¬ 
pearance the arrival of Aimata. 
