The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841, 1841-11-27
Vol. =. No. %.

court house. and knowing how hardly il
fares with foreigners accused Of political
crimes in this country, we did not at all
relish the idea of becoming the inmates Of
a prison in the interior of Mexico. We
felt rather cheap, as we were ushered I'D
broad flight of steps through files of
grim guards, into the hall of Justice, and
began to speculate on the probability of
my having an opportunity to see David
Crockett, whom we had ust heard was
alive in one of the Mexican mines. The
hall which we entered was fine large
room, at the head of which behind table
covered with books and papers, sat 8" His
Honor" the Alcade, swelling with con-
sclous dignity. We walked up to the ia
bic, and Mr. +. carelcssly laid his hat up
on it, which was whiskcd off by the mag
istrate, who with terrible frown. that
made our hearts leap into our mouths,
majes,lcally motioned for US to sit down
on bench near him. He then common
ccd speech, the purport of which was
as nearly as | could comprehend, that Sc
rlous charges had been brought against us,
and that we must abide the trial. and suf-
fer the just penalty of the law if proved
guilty. This speech being concluded he
So, down apparently convinced that his
eloquence had made a strong impression
upon US trembling cnl prits. who in answer
gave him to understand that not being
acquainted with the language, they were
no wiser than when he commenced The
military captain then stepped forward, in
forming his honor that he was fellow
traveller and would act as advocate for us.
The Judge then ordered the accuser 10
appear and we were expecting to see
some official character approach, to charge
us with fomenting revolution, when who
should make her appearance. boiling with
rage but our fat old landlady of the day
previous, and accuse us of cheating her
out of her supper. Our lofty notions of
our political consequence, at once vanish
ed, at this step from the sublime, and we
could hardly refrain from a burst of laugh
ter at the absurd nature of the denoue-
mcnt. This corpulent old lady sacrificing
interest to revenge, had followed us with
her servants through the heat and dust Of
orr days journey, and now demanded re-
dress, and rccompensc for her supper, her
days journey, loss Of time, &c. and dam
ages to the amount of about twenty dol
lars. On hearing her complaint the AL
calde rose in all the majesty of the law,
and expressed his indignation at the treat
ment which a Mexican female had receiy-
ed at the hands of foreign travellers. He
said it was humping shame that lone
female should be thus imposed upon and
have to travel seven leagues TO obtain re.
dress. The old lady heard his honor with
much satisfaction, bridling up and looking
daggers at us, as much as to say that she
would make us suffer for our insolence.
and we really began to think that it would
have been more economical for US had we
allowed ourselves to be cheated by her, as
the affair then looked rather against us.
She knew that we did not understand the
language sufficiently to defend our case,
and supposed that her statement would
be heard uncontra1icte But after the
Alcalde had finished his speech, our friend
the officer rose and stated the case as il
was, calling the arrieros and Positions to
prove that we were Ovcrcharpcd. The