Aimata when a girl of about nine years, in December, 1822, was married or betrothed to Tapoa of Huahine and Borabora. As I grew up, I became her most intimate friend, and Uata was our constant adviser. The unfortunate Aimata had troubles of every sort, domestic, political, private and public, until at last the missionaries, English and French, fought so violently for control of her and the island that she was fairly driven away. Among other laws which the English missionaries were supposed to have obtained to prevent strangers from obtaining influence in the island, was one of March 1,1835, forbidding strangers under any pretext, from marrying in Tahiti or Moorea. I did not choose to marry any native then to be found in the island. Terito, the queen mother, tried to get up a match between me and one of the Raiatea chiefs, but my mother, Marama, did not think the marriage good enough. Finally I decided to marry Mr Salmon, an Englishman who had general esteem and consideration in the island; and Aimata suspended the law in order to enable her friend to be married.

Indigenous Histories