{"id":"01KG8AKXGBJTPJX2W55KXE4ZZ5","cid":"bafkreigq2p33eeax4rul2bimyn4w6buu2u6qkgzf3yy6dphed4corppe3y","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":4394,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.149Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":4337,"text":"CHAPTER XXXII.\r\nPROCEEDINGS OF THE FRENCH AT TAHITI\r\n\r\n\r\nAs I happened to arrive at the island at a very interesting period in\r\nits political affairs, it may be well to give some little account here\r\nof the proceedings of the French, by way of episode to the narrative.\r\nMy information was obtained at the time from the general reports then\r\nrife among the natives, as well as from what I learned upon a\r\nsubsequent visit, and reliable accounts which I have seen since\r\nreaching home.\r\n\r\nIt seems that for some time back the French had been making repeated\r\nineffectual attempts to plant a Roman Catholic mission here. But,\r\ninvariably treated with contumely, they sometimes met with open\r\nviolence; and, in every case, those directly concerned in the\r\nenterprise were ultimately forced to depart. In one instance, two\r\npriests, Laval and Caset, after enduring a series of persecutions, were\r\nset upon by the natives, maltreated, and finally carried aboard a small\r\ntrading schooner, which eventually put them ashore at Wallis’ island—a\r\nsavage place—some two thousand miles to the westward.\r\n\r\nNow, that the resident English missionaries authorized the banishment\r\nof these priests is a fact undenied by themselves. I was also\r\nrepeatedly informed that by their inflammatory harangues they\r\ninstigated the riots which preceded the sailing of the schooner. At all\r\nevents, it is certain that their unbounded influence with the natives\r\nwould easily have enabled them to prevent everything that took place on\r\nthis occasion, had they felt so inclined.\r\n\r\nMelancholy as such an example of intolerance on the part of Protestant\r\nmissionaries must appear, it is not the only one, and by no means the\r\nmost flagrant, which might be presented. But I forbear to mention any\r\nothers; since they have been more than hinted at by recent voyagers,\r\nand their repetition here would perhaps be attended with no good\r\neffect. Besides, the conduct of the Sandwich Island missionaries in\r\nparticular has latterly much amended in this respect.\r\n\r\nThe treatment of the two priests formed the principal ground (and the\r\nonly justifiable one) upon which Du Petit Thouars demanded\r\nsatisfaction; and which subsequently led to his seizure of the island.\r\nIn addition to other things, he also charged that the flag of\r\nMerenhout, the consul, had been repeatedly insulted, and the property\r\nof a certain French resident violently appropriated by the government.\r\nIn the latter instance, the natives were perfectly in the right. At\r\nthat time, the law against the traffic in ardent spirits (every now and\r\nthen suspended and revived) happened to be in force; and finding a\r\nlarge quantity on the premises of Victor, a low, knavish adventurer\r\nfrom Marseilles, the Tahitians pronounced it forfeit.\r\n\r\nFor these, and similar alleged outrages, a large pecuniary restitution\r\nwas demanded (10,000 dollars), which there being no exchequer to\r\nsupply, the island was forthwith seized, under cover of a mock treaty,\r\ndictated to the chiefs on the gun-deck of Du Petit Thouars’ frigate.\r\n\r\nBut, notwithstanding this formality, there seems now little doubt that\r\nthe downfall of the Pomarees was decided upon at the Tuilleries.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJJFTRJ08XFHKDZRZG9TS","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKXGBWQVSGVF4WQHY3GFM","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:19.979Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:26.973Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}