In 1822, the Society Islands, which had previously been governed by
chiefs according to their own pleasure, came under the influence of the
Christian religion. One of the first things the islanders did was to
assemble and agree upon a code of laws, which were to be equally binding
upon the King and his lowest subject.
A few months after the adoption of this code the Queen of Tahiti visited
Huahine. Her attendants requiring a piece of timber, she directed them
to cut down a bread-fruit-tree which grew in a garden near the place
where she was resting with her people.
In the evening, when the owner came home from his work in the fields, he
saw what had been done. There lay the branches strewn around. There was
the bleeding stump. But the tree, his pride and delight, was gone.
Informed by his neighbors that the Queen's men had cut it down, he went
at once to the magistrate and lodged a complaint against her Majesty.
The magistrate directed him to appear at sunrise the next morning, and
bring witnesses to prove his charge. The Queen also received a summons
to attend.
At the appointed hour, Ori, the Judge, was seated on the ground beneath
a mighty tree. On a finely woven mat before him reclined the Queen,
surrounded by attendants. Beside her stood the peasant, her accuser, and
back of them, all a number of men who seemed to be police officers.
Turning to the plaintiff, whose name was Teuhe, Ori asked for what
purpose they were assembled. The poor man replied:
"O magistrate, in my garden there grew a bread-fruit-tree. Its shelter
was thrown over my cottage. Its fruit supported my children. Yesterday
some one came and cut it down. They tell me the Queen sent him to do
so. What I desire to ask is, whether the law was made only for kings,
or for poor men too?"
The magistrate, turning to the Queen, asked if she had ordered this. She
answered, "Yes." He then asked if she did not know that they had laws.
She said, "Yes"; but she was not aware that they applied to her. The
magistrate asked if in those laws--a copy of which he held in his
hand--there were any exceptions in favor of chiefs, or kings, or queens.
She answered, "No," and dispatched one of her attendants to her house,
who soon returned with a bag of money, which she threw down before the
poor man, as a recompense for his loss.
"Stop," said the Justice; "we have not done yet." The Queen began to
weep. "Do you think it right that you should have cut down the tree
without asking the owner's permission?" continued the magistrate. "It
was not right," said the Queen. Then turning to the poor man, he asked,
"What remuneration do you require?" Teuhe answered, "If the Queen is
convinced that it was not right to take a little man's tree without his
permission, I am sure she will not do so again. I am satisfied; I
require no other recompense." His disinterestedness was applauded, the
assembly dispersed, and afterward, I think, the Queen sent him privately
a present equal to the value of his tree.