PUNISHMENT FOR MAKING AVA.

373

their country. In Tahiti they (as well as other criminals) began a broad road that was to be made all round the island. In many places they brought great blocks of coral from the sea to build piers. The same persons might often be seen engaged in these fatiguing labours. It seemed surprising they should continue in sins, that brought upon them such severe toil; but the servants of Satan suffer more in the service of their master, than God's most diligent servants do in his.

The only way to prevent tattooing was at length found to be, having the parts that were marked, disfigured, by the skin being taken off, and foul blotches left where beautiful patterns had been pricked in.

A very singular punishment was once inflicted on four men, who were detected in a house, with a quantity of the root called ava, which they were going to prepare for drinking. Some men were sent to take away the house from over the heads of the offenders. They unfastened the roof, and carried it away on their shoulders to the house of the chief of the district. The night was stormy, and the culprits went from house to house imploring shelter, but were everywhere denied, the people telling them they were bad men, with whom they would have nothing to do. At last the outcasts came to the missionaries, and were allowed to take

374

PUNISHMENT FOR CURSING.

refuge in a shed from the torrents of rain that were descending.

On one occasion Mr. Bennet and Mr. Tyerman observed a man standing outside a chapel in Tahiti. They were informed that he had been in a passion, and had threatened the person, who had provoked him, to kill him, and deliver him to be eaten by his god. For uttering this curse, the man, by order of the chiefs, was shut out from the congregation for one sabbath.

A pleasing instance of justice being shown to the poor, occurred in Huahine. Little Pomare's mother, the queen, once visited this island, and, wanting some wood, ordered her servants to cut down a bread-fruit tree that grew in a poor man's garden. Kings and queens had been brought up to oppress the poor, and to think only of their own pleasure; therefore the queen was surprised when she was desired to appear before the judge the next morning. Trials generally took place at sunrise, when the air was cool. At that time the queen with her train of attendants appeared before the judge, who was sitting beneath the shade of a spreading tree. The queen took her seat before him upon a fine mat. The poor man began by making his complaint. The judge then, turning to the queen, said, "Do you not know that we have laws?"

QUEEN'S INJUSTICE REPROVED.

375

She replied, "Yes, but I did not know they applied to me."

The judge then asked if it was said in the laws that kings and queens need not obey them.

She answered, "No," and then sent her servants to fetch a bag of money, which she threw down before the poor man.

"Stop," said the judge, "we have not done yet." The queen began to weep. "Do you

think it was right," continued the judge, "to cut down a tree without the owner's leave?" 66 It was not right," replied the queen.

Then the judge asked the poor man what recompense he required.

The man replied, "If the queen is convinced that it was not right to take a poor man's tree without his leave, I am sure she will not do so again. I am satisfied-I require no other recompense."

The people who stood round were pleased with this answer. I believe the queen afterwards sent the poor man a present equal in value to the tree. She ought, however, to have sent him much more than the value.

It is evident that the natives were rendered much happier by the laws, than they could have been without them; for the judges were only a terror to evil-doers, and protected those who did well. There were, however, many occa

376

FEAST ON THE PIER.

openly shown.

sions on which the happiness of the people was An account of one of these joyful feasts, at which Mr. Tyerman and Mr. Bennet were present, shall be related.

The feast took place in the island of Raiatea, where Mr. Williams and Mr. Threlkeld laboured, and where the people had adopted more English customs, than almost any other island.

There was a coral pier, erected upon the beach near the missionary settlement. Upon this pier the feast was held. A thousand persons were present. They came from all parts of the island, some in canoes and some upon foot, bringing with them both furniture and provisions. At break of day the preparations began. Fresh grass was spread upon the rough coral pavement, as a carpet, and a native cloth was stretched above as a shelter from the sun. More than a hundred tables, which the natives brought with them, were placed on the pier, and wooden sofas, and chairs and stools, were ranged around.

Native cloth, or matting, was used for tablecloths, and various kinds of dinner-things were set out. Some few persons had plates and knives and forks from England: but most had only native plates made of leaves, and such spoons as they themselves could make. Fruit and roots were the principal food; though a

SPEECHES AFTER DINNER.

37.7

little baked hog and fish were also seen. At noon the company sat down to dinner, not omitting to ask a blessing on their plentiful provisions. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Tyerman, with the missionaries and their families, were seated at a table, under an awning, prepared for them, and looked with delight at the happy assembly.

At each table, fathers and mothers were surrounded by smiling boys and girls, who once would not have been allowed to eat together, and many of whom would long ago have been buried in the earth, had not the gospel of salvation been made known. After dinner several chiefs arose one after another, and reminded the natives of the blessings they enjoyed.

One of them observed, "A few years ago, at a feast, none but kings, or chiefs, or strong men, would have got anything to eat: the poor, and the lame, and the blind, would have been trampled under foot, and probably killed in the rioting and drunkenness of the feast."

Another chief observed, "This is the reign of Jesus-that was the reign of Satan. Once we used to flee to the mountains to hide ourselves, lest we should be slain as sacrifices to Oro, and we were afraid to return till we heard that a victim had been offered."

A shower of rain coming on in the afternoon, the company left the pier, and took