214 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
he wished to know whether it was right that, with¬ 
out his knowledge or consent, the tree should have 
been cut down. 
The magistrate, turning to the queen, asked if 
she had ordered the tree to be cut down. She 
answered, 4 Yes/—He then asked if she did not 
know that they had laws. She said, * Yes ;’ but she 
was not aware that they applied to her. The magis¬ 
trate asked, 4 If in those laws (a copy of which he 
held in his hand) there were any exceptions in 
favour of chiefs, or kings, or queens.’ She an¬ 
swered, 4 No,’ and despatched one of her attend¬ 
ants to her house, who soon returned with a bag 
of dollars, which she threw down before the poor 
man, as a recompense for his loss.— 4 Stop,’ said the 
justice,’ we have not done yet.’ The queen began 
to weep. 6 Do you think it right that you should 
have cut down the tree without asking the owner’s 
permission V continued the magistrate. 4 It was 
not right,’ said the queen. Then turning to the 
poor man, he asked, 4 What remuneration do you 
require V Teuhe answered, If the queen is con¬ 
vinced that it was not right to take a little man’s 
tree without his permission, I am sure she will not 
do so again. I am satisfied—I require no other 
recompense.’ His disinterestedness was applaud¬ 
ed ; the assembly dispersed; and afterwards, I 
think, the queen sent him, privately, a present 
equal to the value of his tree. 
