The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-08-05


ance of trouble, and the sensual enjoyment
Of the moment. The race rapidly dimin-
ishes. /" In l777, Captain Cook estimated
the population of Tahiti at about two hun
dred thousand. BY regular census taken
some four or five years ago, it was found to
be onlyni thousand! 20 Diseases Of vari-
Gus kinds, entirely Of European introduc-
ton. and chiefly the result Of drunkenness
and debauchery, account for this frightful
decrease, which must result in the extinc-
lion Of the aborigines.
/" The palm-trec shall grow,
The coral shall spread,
But man shall cease"
So runs an old Tahitan propecy, soon to be
realized. And if Pomaree, who is under
forty years Of age, proves long lived
sovereign, she may chance TO find herself
queen without subjects. Concerning her
majesty and her court, Typee is diffuse and
diverting. This is an age Of queens, and
though her dominions be Of the smallest,
her people few and feeble, and her preroga-
tive wofully clippled, she Of Tahiti, has
made some noise in the world, and attracted
fair share Of public attention. At one
time, indeed, she was almost as mnch
thought of and talked about as her more
civilized and puissant European sisters. In
France, In Refine Pomaree ? was looked
upon as a far more interesting parsonage
than Spanish Isabel or Portuguese Maria !;
and extraordinary notions were formed as
TO the appearance, habits, and attributes of
her dusky majesty. Distance favored de-
fusion, and French Imagination ran riot in
conjecture, until the reports of the valiant
Thouars, and his squadron Of protection,
dissipated the enchantment, and reduced
Pomaree to her true character, that of
lazy, dirty, licentious, Polynesian savage,
who walks about barefoot, drinks spirits,
and hen-pecks her husband. Her real
name is Aimata, but she assumed, on as
cended the throne, the royal patronymc
by which she is best known, There were
Caesars in Rome, there are Pomarees in
Tahiti. The name was originally assumed
by the great Otoo, Ito be read Of in Cap
tam Cook J who united the whole island
under one crown. 1t descended to his son,
and then to his grandson, who came TO
the throne an infant, and, dying young,
was succeeded by her present majesty, Po-
maree Fahinee l., the first female Pomaree.
This lady has been twice married. Her
first husband was a kings son, but lie
union was ll-assorted, divorce obtained,
and she took up with one Tanee, a chief
from the neighboring island of lmeeo.
She leads him dogs life, and he consoles
himself BY getting drunk. In that state, he
now and then violently breaks out, con-
tennis the royal authority, thrashes his
wife, and smashes the crockery. Captain
Rob gave Typee an account Of burst Of
this sort, which occurred about seven years
ago. Stimulated by the sediiious advice
Of his boon companions, and under the
influence Of an unusually large dose Of strong
waters, the turbulen, king -consort forgot
the respect due to his wife and sovereign,
mounted his horse, and ran full tilt at the
royal cavalcade, out for their afternoon ride
4 in the park. One maid Of honor was floor
ed, the rest fed in terror, save and expect
Pomarse, who stood her ground like man,
and apostrophized her insubordinate spouse
in the choicest Tahitian billiDgsgate. For
once her eloquence failed of effect Drag
ged from her house, her personal charms
were deteriora.ed by severe humping on
the face. This done, O,hello- lance al
tempted to strangle her, and was in q fair
way to succeed, when her loving subjects
came to her rescue. So heinous crime
could not be overlooked, and lance was
banished 10 his native island but after
short time he declared his penitence, made
amende honorable, and was restored to favor.
He does not very often venture to thwait
the will Of his royal wife, much less to
raise his hand against her sacred person,
but submits with exemplary patience to
her caprices and abuse, and even to the
manual admonitions she not unfiequently
bestows on him.