Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 86.djvu/458

454 decisive victory, killing Opuhara, the leader of "the Conservatives" and enabling Pomare to capture and destroy the idol of the great god Oro, the "ancestor of the chiefs" a huge, uncarved log covered with red and yellow feathers. Thus through methods savoring more of Mahomet than of Christ was Tahiti converted.

Soon all old customs were crushed out; European clothing and manners were introduced, and rigid laws were enacted obliging all to conform to the outward forms of Christian worship.

A priestly despotism similar to that which prevailed in the seventeenth century in Puritan New England was inaugurated; the Sabbath commencing on Saturday afternoon every one being obliged under penalty of a heavy fine to attend the services of the church. To-day, in the Ellice and Gilbert islands and in other remote parts of Polynesia, a similar tyranny is maintained.

Pomare was "king," but his power was broken never to be restored, and the actual government of Tahiti was in European hands.

The tabu system having been destroyed, Mr. Nott, one of the original missionaries, devised a code of laws in 1819, the "king," chiefs, and people all approving by raising their hands at a public gathering. These laws were still further elaborated in 1826 and were designed to provide a regular system of taxes (tribute), and penalties. The following table may be interesting, for it serves to give an insight into the mental character, spirit of toleration, and power to enforce their rule enjoyed by the missionaries:

As Ellis says

the law which prohibits labor on the Sabbath day is perhaps enforced by a penalty disproportionate to the offense.

In most of these penalties a part of the fine went to benefit the king or district chief, who thus profited through the dereliction of his