i
10!
ilí:
i!::
ai
'I 1
sake of giving your majesty satisfaction, by forwarding the
business for which this assembly was convened, it will not
become me to object; on the contrary, I shall esteem his able
assistance as of the most material consequence.”
The queen immediately replied, through the chieftain at her
right hand, Taati, that she wished Mr. Pritchard to interpret.
Removing to a position nearer the queen and chiefs (he had
been sitting at a distance), Mr. Pritchard expressed his entire
readiness to exert himself on any question which might affect
the good understanding and hannony that hitherto had existed
between the natives of Otalieite and the British ; and he trusted
that those persons present who understood both languages,
(Messrs. Wilson, Bicknell, Henry, and others,) would assist and
correct his interpretations as often as they thought it necessary.
Commodore Mason’s letter to me, authorizing my proceedings,
was then read—in English, by myself—and translated by
Mr. Pritchard. Next was read an agreement or bond, by
whicli Queen Pomare had engaged to pay 2,853 dollars, or an
equivalent, on or before the 1st day of September 1835, as an
indemnification for the capture and robbery of the Truro at
the Low Islands.
The queen was asked whether her promise had been fulfilled ?
Taati answered, “ Neither the money nor an equivalent has
yet been given.”
“ Why is this .?” I asked. “ Has any unforeseen accident hindered
your acting up to your intentions; or is it not to be paid ?”
Utaame and Hitóte spoke to Taati, who replied, “ We did
not understand distinctly how and to whom payment was to
be made. I t is our intention to pay ; and we now wish to
remove all doubts, as to the manner of payment.”
I observed, that a clear and explicit agreement had been
entered into with Capt. Seymour ; if a doubt had arisen it might
have been removed by reference to the parties concerned, or to
disinterested persons ; but no reference of any kind had been
made, and Mr. Bicknell, the person appointed to receive the
money, or an equivalent, bad applied to tbe queen, yet had
not obtained an answer.
I then reminded Pomare of the solemn nature of her agreement
; of the loss which her character, and that of her chiefs,
would sustain ; and of the means England eventually might
adopt to recover the property so nefariously taken away from
British subjects. I said that I was on my way to England,
where her conduct would become known ; and if harsh measures
should, in consequence, be adopted, she must herself
expect to bear the blame.
These words seemed to produce a serious effect. Much argumentative
discussion occupied the more respectable natives as
well as the chiefs; while the queen sat in silence.
I must here remark, in explanation of the assuming or even
harsh tone of my conduct towards Pomare, at this meeting;
that there was too much reason for believing that she had
abetted, if not in a great measure instigated, the piracy of
the Paamuto people (or Low Islanders). For such conduct,
however, her advisers were the most to blame. She was then
very young; and during those years in which mischief occurred,
must have been guided less by her own will than by
the desires of her relations.
I had been told that excuses would be made; and that unless
something like harshness and threatening were employed,
ill effects, instead of a beneficial result, would be caused by the
meeting: for the natives, seeing that the case was not taken up
in a serious manner, and that the captain of the ship of war
did not insist, would trouble themselves no farther after she
had sailed away; and would laugh at those by whom the property
was to be received.
The ‘Paamuto,’ or Low Islands, where the piracies have
occurred, in which she and her relations were supposed to have
been concerned, were, and are still considered (though nomi-
nally given up by her), as under her authority and particular
infiuence. Her father was a good friend to all the natives of
those islands; and the respect and esteem excited by his unusual
conduct have continued to the present time, and shown
themselves in attachment to his daughter. So much hostility
has in general influenced the natives of different islands, that
2 M 2