At this point, in February, 1846, begins my own story of how I interposed, as chiefess, to bring about peace, and the submission of the islanders to French rule. I repeat it in my own words which are more lifelike than any that an editor could use.

THE STORY OF ARIITAIMAI, 1846.

During the year 1846 I was resting myself in my room at our house in Papeete, when an old woman by the name of Peutari was shown in. At her entrance I could see that she was very much grieved about something, and a little while after she entered the room she cried out: "I cry for my land of Tahiti. Our people will soon be at war with the French, and they will soon be opened like a lot of chickens?" These words startled me and gave me great pain. She repeated these former words and added: "Don't you know that you are the first of the island, and it remains in your hands to save all this and your land?" Other words followed from this woman, which led me to make up my mind to go and see the French governor, Bruat. I prepared myself then to visit this governor. When he saw me walking up the alley way towards the government house, he came out to meet me, and said: "What brings you here so early?" I then asked an audience with him in his room, and sent for an interpreter, so that he would fully understand what I wished. I then made known to him what I had decided to do, saying that I had heard it spoken of in the town that the frigate Uranie and her tender, the steamer Phaeton, were both going to be sent around to Papeenoo full of troops to fight the natives. Bruat replied, saying; "You have heard the truth. The Colonel commanding the troops of the town has heard of so many instances of insult given to the

Indigenous Histories