has the best harbour, it is the most
frequented, and is the seat of government.

We know very little of the history of the island. Soon after its
discovery, a chief, who assumed the title of Pomare the First, made
himself king. His son, and then his grandson, succeeded him, and the
present queen is his granddaughter; her name is Aimata, but she has
taken the title of Pomare the Fourth. She has established a
constitution, and seven chiefs act as her ministers. For many years
both the chiefs and people have professed Christianity, having been
converted to a knowledge of the truth by Protestant missionaries. These
missionaries were undoubtedly earnest, pious men, but they have been
unable altogether to check the vices which the lawless rovers, outcasts
of every civilised nation in the world, have introduced among them.
Notwithstanding the counteracting influences I have mentioned,
civilisation was making progress in the island, under the teaching of
the Protestant missionaries, when the peace was disturbed by the arrival
of two French Roman Catholic priests. They travelled about the country
endeavouring to teach their doctrines, but in no place did they find
willing hearers. A few chiefs who were in opposition to the Government
for political motives, gave them some countenance, and they were
entertained at the house of the American consul. The people, however,
resolved that they should not remain to attempt the corruption of the
faith in which they had been instructed, and rising in a body, compelled
them to go on board a small vessel, which carried them to Wallis Island,
two thousand miles off. The French who had long desired the possession
of some island in the Pacific inhabited by partly civilised people, were
too glad to found a pretext on this circumstance for interfering in the
affairs of Tahiti. A frigate, the _Venus_, commanded by Monsieur Du
Petit Thouars, entered the harbour of Papieti. The French, captain,
bringing his guns to bear on the town, demanded satisfaction for the
outrage committed on his countrymen. The queen was inclined to resist,
but the foreign inhabitants, knowing that they should be the chief
sufferers, collected the amount demanded, which was at least four times
as much as any pecuniary loss the priests had incurred. He also forced
a treaty on the queen, by which Frenchmen were allowed to visit the
island at pleasure, to erect churches, and to practise their religion.
This was the