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

CHAPTER XXIII. Continuation of the Meeting atPapiete — Questions — Explanation — Meet- ing ends — Pilotage — jNIr. Wilson — Queen's Visit — Fireworks — School Intelligence — Letters — Inhabitants — Dress — Conduct — Abolition of Spirits — Defect in Character — Domestic Scene — Aura Island — New- ton at Bow Island — Pearl Ovster-shells — Divers— Steering — Queen's Letter — Collection — Sail from Otaheite — AVhylootacke — Flight of Birds — Navigators — Friendly — Feejee Islands — English Chief — Pre- cautions — La Perouse, Reverting to the meeting at Papiete : — The queen's secre- tary next asked to speak, and said that a law had been esta- bhshed in the island, prohibiting the keeping, as well as the use or importation of any kind of spirits. In consequence of that law, the persons appointed to carry it into effect had de- sired to destroy the contents of various casks and bottles of spirits ; but the foreigners who owned the spirits objected, denying the right to interfere with private property. The Otaheitan authorities did not persist, as they were told that the first man-of-war which might arrive would certainly take vengeance upon them if they meddled with private property. He wished to ask whether the Otaheitans ought to have per- sisted in enforcing their own laws ; and what I should have done, had the law been enforced with a British subject, and had he made application to me. My answer was, " Had the Otaheitans enforced their law, I could in no way have objected. In England a contraband article is seized by the proper officers, and is not treated as private property while forbidden by the law."" Much satisfaction was evidently caused by this declaration : also, at a former part of the discussions, when a remonstrance was made against Otaheitans paying the Truro debt, the greater part of the assembly seemed to be much pleased. A respectable old man then stood up, and expressed his grati- fication at finding that another of King William's men-of-war had been sent — not to frighten them, or to force them to do as they were told, without considering or inquiring into their own