CHAPTER THREE
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE OPERATIONS OF THE FRENCH AT THEMARQUESAS--PRUDENT CONDUCT OF THE ADMIRAL--SENSATION PRODUCED BYTHE ARRIVAL OF THE STRANGERS--THE FIRST HORSE SEEN BY THEISLANDERS--REFLECTIONS--MISERABLE SUBTERFUGE OF THE FRENCH--DIGRESSIONCONCERNING TAHITI--SEIZURE OF THE ISLAND BY THE ADMIRAL--SPIRITEDCONDUCT OF AN ENGLISH LADY
IT was in the summer of 1842 that we arrived at the islands; the Frenchhad then held possession of them for several weeks. During this timethey had visited some of the principal places in the group, and haddisembarked at various points about five hundred troops. These wereemployed in constructing works of defence, and otherwise providingagainst the attacks of the natives, who at any moment might be expectedto break out in open hostility. The islanders looked upon the people whomade this cavalier appropriation of their shores with mingled feelingsof fear and detestation. They cordially hated them; but the impulsesof their resentment were neutralized by their dread of the floatingbatteries, which lay with their fatal tubes ostentatiously pointed,not at fortifications and redoubts, but at a handful of bamboo sheds,sheltered in a grove of cocoanuts! A valiant warrior doubtless, buta prudent one too, was this same Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars. Fourheavy, doublebanked frigates and three corvettes to frighten a parcel ofnaked heathen into subjection! Sixty-eight pounders to demolish huts ofcocoanut boughs, and Congreve rockets to set on fire a few canoe sheds!
At Nukuheva, there were about one hundred soldiers ashore. They wereencamped in tents, constructed of the old sails and spare spars ofthe squadron, within the limits of a redoubt mounted with a fewnine-pounders, and surrounded with a fosse. Every other day, thesetroops were marched out in martial array, to a level piece of groundin the vicinity, and there for hours went through all sorts of militaryevolutions, surrounded by flocks of the natives, who looked on withsavage admiration at the show, and as savage a hatred of the actors.A regiment of the Old Guard, reviewed on a summer's day in the ChampsElysees, could not have made a more critically correct appearance. Theofficers' regimentals, resplendent with gold lace and embroidery as ifpurposely calculated to dazzle the islanders, looked as if just unpackedfrom their Parisian cases.
The sensation produced by the presence of the strangers had not in theleast subsided at the period of our arrival at the islands. The nativesstill flocked in numbers about the encampment, and watched with theliveliest curiosity everything that was going forward. A blacksmith'sforge, which had been set up in the shelter of a grove near the beach,attracted so great a crowd, that it required the utmost efforts of thesentries posted around to keep the inquisitive multitude at a sufficientdistance to allow the workmen to ply their vocation. But nothing gainedso large a share of admiration as a horse, which had been brought fromValparaiso by the Achille, one of the vessels of the squadron. Theanimal, a remarkably fine one, had been taken ashore, and stabled in ahut of cocoanut boughs within the fortified enclosure. Occasionally itwas brought out, and, being gaily caparisoned, was ridden by one of theofficers at full speed over the hard sand beach. This performance wassure to be hailed with loud plaudits, and the 'puarkee nuee' (big hog)was unanimously pronounced by the islanders to be the most extraordinaryspecimen of zoology that had ever come under their observation.
The expedition for the occupation of the Marquesas had sailed from Brestin the spring of 1842, and the secret of its destination was solely inthe possession of its commander. No wonder that those who contemplatedsuch a signal infraction of the rights of humanity should have sought toveil the enormity from the eyes of the world. And yet, notwithstandingtheir iniquitous conduct in this and in other matters, the Frenchhave ever plumed themselves upon being the most humane and polished ofnations. A high degree of refinement, however, does not seem to subdueour wicked propensities so much after all; and were civilization itselfto be estimated by some of its results, it would seem perhaps better forwhat we call the barbarous part of the world to remain unchanged.
One example of the shameless subterfuges under which the French standprepared to defend whatever cruelties they may hereafter think fit tocommit in bringing the Marquesan natives into subjection is well worthyof being recorded. On some flimsy pretext or other Mowanna, the king ofNukuheva, whom the invaders by extravagant presents had cajoled over totheir interests, and moved about like a mere puppet, has been set upas the rightful sovereign of the entire island--the alleged ruler byprescription of various clans, who for ages perhaps have treated witheach other as separate nations. To reinstate this much-injured prince inthe assumed dignities of his ancestors, the disinterested strangers havecome all the way from France: they are determined that his title shallbe acknowledged. If any tribe shall refuse to recognize the authorityof the French, by bowing down to the laced chapeau of Mowanna, let themabide the consequences of their obstinacy. Under cover of a similarpretence, have the outrages and massacres at Tahiti the beautiful, thequeen of the South Seas, been perpetrated.
On this buccaneering expedition, Rear Admiral Du Petit Thouars, leavingthe rest of his squadron at the Marquesas,--which had then been occupiedby his forces about five months--set sail for the doomed island inthe Reine Blanche frigate. On his arrival, as an indemnity for allegedinsults offered to the flag of his country, he demanded some twentyor thirty thousand dollars to be placed in his hands forthwith, and indefault of payment, threatened to land and take possession of the place.
The frigate, immediately upon coming to an anchor, got springs on hercables, and with her guns cast loose and her men at their quarters, layin the circular basin of Papeete, with her broadside bearing upon thedevoted town; while her numerous cutters, hauled in order alongside,were ready to effect a landing, under cover of her batteries. Shemaintained this belligerent attitude for several days, during which timea series of informal negotiations were pending, and wide alarm spreadover the island. Many of the Tahitians were at first disposed to resortto arms, and drive the invaders from their shores; but more pacific andfeebler counsels ultimately prevailed. The unfortunate queen Pomare,incapable of averting the impending calamity, terrified at the arroganceof the insolent Frenchman, and driven at last to despair, fled by nightin a canoe to Emio.
During the continuance of the panic there occurred an instance offeminine heroism that I cannot omit to record.
In the grounds of the famous missionary consul, Pritchard, then absentin London, the consular flag of Britain waved as usual during the day,from a lofty staff planted within a few yards of the beach, and in fullview of the frigate. One morning an officer, at the head of a partyof men, presented himself at the verandah of Mr Pritchard's house, andinquired in broken English for the lady his wife. The matron soon madeher appearance; and the polite Frenchman, making one of his best bows,and playing gracefully with the aiguillettes that danced upon hisbreast, proceeded in courteous accents to deliver his mission. 'Theadmiral desired the flag to be hauled down--hoped it would be perfectlyagreeable--and his men stood ready to perform the duty.' 'Tell thePirate your master,' replied the spirited Englishwoman, pointing tothe staff, 'that if he wishes to strike these colours, he must come andperform the act himself; I will suffer no one else to do it.' The ladythen bowed haughtily and withdrew into the house. As the discomfitedofficer slowly walked away, he looked up to the flag, and perceived thatthe cord by which it was elevated to its place, led from the top of thestaff, across the lawn, to an open upper window of the mansion, wheresat the lady from whom he had just parted, tranquilly engaged inknitting. Was that flag hauled down? Mrs Pritchard thinks not; andRear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars is believed to be of the same opinion.
Typee: A Romance of the South Seas Page 5