MATRIMONIAL ALLIANCES. 269 
the society of one of the young men, and it was 
soon intimated to him that she wished to become 
his companion for life. The intimation, however, 
was disregarded by the young man, who expressed 
his intention to prosecute his voyage. The young 
woman became unhappy, and made no secret of 
the cause of her distress. She was assiduous in 
redoubling her efforts to please the individual 
whose affection she was desirous to obtain. At 
this period I never saw him either in the house of 
his friend, or walking abroad, without the young 
woman by his side. 
Finding the object of her attachment, who was 
probably about eighteen years of age, unmoved 
by her attentions, she not only became exceedingly 
unhappy, but declared, that if she continued to 
receive the same indifference and neglect, she 
would either strangle or drown herself. Her friends 
endeavoured to dissuade her from her purpose; 
but, as she declared her determination was 
unaltered, they used their endeavours with the 
stranger, who afterwards returned the attentions 
he had received, and the parties were married at 
Huahine. His companions pursued their voyage 
to Borabora, and afterwards returned to Tahiti, 
while the new-married couple continued to reside 
with Taraimano. Their happiness was of short 
duration; not that death dissolved their union, 
but that attachment, which had been so ardent in 
the bosom of the young woman before marriage, 
was superseded by a dislike as powerful; and 
although I never heard the slightest charge of 
unkindness preferred against the husband, his wife 
not only treated him with insult, but finally left 
him. Instances of such unhappy marriages, though 
not unusual formerly, are now of rare occurrence. 
