144 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
nancing the misdeeds of those we might recom¬ 
mend to mercy. 
The new laws had now been nearly three years 
established in Tahiti and Eimeo. Those of Raia- 
tea, Tahaa, and Borabora had also been for more 
than twelve months in operation among the inha¬ 
bitants of these islands. The chiefs of Huahine 
had virtually made the latter the basis of their 
administration of justice, but no code had yet been 
officially promulgated. 
They had already applied to us for assistance 
in preparing the laws for the islands under their 
dominion. This we had cheerfully rendered to 
the best of our ability, at the same time recom¬ 
mending 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 Hua¬ 
hine, the government of the island having been 
formerly presented to her by Mahine, the resident 
and hereditary chieftain. This grant, which tran¬ 
spired several years before any of the parties em¬ 
braced Christianity, has often occasioned incon¬ 
venience. The internal government of the island 
has always been maintained by the resident chiefs, 
but in all matters materially affecting the people, 
or their relation to the governments of other 
islands, it has been considered necessary, as a 
matter of etiquette, or courtesy at least, to consult 
Teriitaria; and hence it was thought desirable to 
submit the laws to her inspection, and receive 
her sanction. Though affecting only the resident 
chiefs and people, and maintained entirely by the 
authority of the former, they were to be promul- 
