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

556 queen's letter — taking leave. Nov. « Tahiti, November 26, 1835. " To the Captain of the ship of war " This is what I have to say to you, before you leave us, respecting the debt. We have 2,338 dollars, which we are now taking to the person who is to receive this property, who is Mr. Bicknell. We are now collecting the remainder. " Peace be with you, " And with your king, William, " (Signed) Pomare Vahine. " (Witnessed by) Hitote and Taati." Taking leave of the queen was our next engagement. At the door of her house was a table, on which the loyal and kind- hearted natives were depositing their dollars, and fractions of dollars : to enable her to pay the debt. To me it was an affecting and an unpleasing sight, — not the proofs of loyalty and affection — Heaven forbid ! — but the reflection that those individuals had in no way done wrong, and that their dollars had been hardly earned and were highly prized. To show how little a metallic currency was then understood, I may mention that many individuals wished to subscribe fractions, who could not afford a whole dollar ; but they were prevented, at first, be- cause the collector knew not how to reckon a fraction of a dollar. Mr. Pritchard easily explained this, and then the smaller coins, (rials, and two rial pieces,) were soon numerous upon the table. Frequently, while walking about the island, men had asked me to give them a dollar in exchange for its value in small coin, which, to their surprise, I was always glad to do, when I had dollars with me. About Pomare was rather a large assemblage of maids of honour, but their postures and appearance, as they sat about upon the floor, were not the most elegant. The contrast be- tween our own neatly dressed, and well-mannered country- women, whom we had just left in the house of Mr. Pritchard, was rather striking as compared with these brown and oily Otaheitans : butovir visit was not long, and we tried to make it agreeable. Returning by the beach, we talked for some time