Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1835. LAWLEIl CONSULS. .539 been living at Tahiti about three months : he came from the Sandwich Islands. Of his previous conduct we can say nothing. We much wish that a British ship of war would come frequently to Tahiti to take to their own lands these bad foreigners that trouble lis. It is useless for us to depend upon the consul at the Sandwich Islands. We have long known that we can obtain no assistance from him.* " We wish to do our duty towards you Britons. You are powerful and rich — but we are like weak children. " On behalf of Pom are, the queen. Apaapa, chief secretary." " Paofai (close to Papiete), Tahiti, 7th January 1832." This interesting letter needs no apology for its insertion at full length. Besides explaining Mare's application, it helps to give an idea of the state of Otaheite ; and it appeals to our better feelings in a persuasive manner. * The British government has since appointed Mr. Pritchard to act as Consul for the Society and Friendly Islands. Note (a) referred to in page 507- That the electric agent (whether fire or fluid) goes upward from the earth to the atmosphere, as well as in the contrary direction, showing that a mutual action takes place between air and land, many facts might be brought to prove : I will only mention two. " On October 25th we had a v^ry remarkable storm : the sky was all in flames. I employed part of the night in observing it, and had the plea- sure of seeing three ascending thunderbolts ! They rose from the sea like an arrow; two of them in a perpendicular direction, and the third at an angle of about 75 degrees." — (De Lamanon, in the Voyage of La Perouse, vol. iii. pp. 431-2). While H.M. corvette Hind, was lying at anchor off Zante, in 1823, in twelve fathoms water, an electric shock came in through her hawse, along the chain-cable, by which she was riding. Two men, who were sit- ting on the cable, before the bitts, were knocked down — felt the effects of the shock about half an hour — but were not seriously hurt. A noise like that of a gun startled every one on board ; yet there was neither smell, nor smoke, nor any other visible effect. The sky was heavily clouded over ; small rain was falling; and there was distant thunder occasion;illy, but no visible lightning. The cable was hanging slack, almost' up and down.' I witnessed this mvsclf.