The Boy-King Of Tahiti

And His Crowning

By W. W. Bolton, M.A.

Part I.

W'HEN Pomare 11. died on December 7, 1821, he left two children, a girl, Aimata, seven years of age, and a boy, Terii Taria, a babe in arms. It was to the latter he ordered the succession should go, and Pomare was the name he was to assume.

The infant, born June 25, 1820, was nursed by his mother Terito, but was placed in special charge of her steadier sister, Pomare Vahine, who was a super numary wife of Pomare 11., edged out of her promised premier post as first Queen by the earlier action of Terito, and childless.

A special house was raised at Papaoa, a few miles distant from Papeete, close adjoining Pomare’s tomb, and known as the Queen’s House, where aunt and babe resided during his infant years.

Terito went her own wild ways, keep ing her girl by her side, and scandalised the brethren of the L.M.S. by allowing herself freedom to the extreme extent of being tatooed. The babe, not the mother, was the one to watch and guard.

Even before the child could lisp, ar rangement was made for Brother Nott, doyen of the mission band, to leave Hua hine and take up his residence at Pa paoa as instructor of the infant prince.

His kingdom was being looked after by a Regent. Ariipaea, and a Council, but the real power was in the hands of Pomare Vahine, a strong, virile and cap able woman.

Some trepidation had been felt at the time of the death of the father that the chiefs would not be willing to accept an infant as their liege lord, but they had made no sign of dissatisfaction. The brethren were, however, taking no chances, and something entirely new and even unheard of was planned, proposed and accepted: there should be a crowning as soon as the boy could stand upon his feet.

To make things still more secure for the tranquility of the state and the pro gress of Christian civilisation, there was started a school, in 1824, at Afareaitu, on Moorea, with the resounding title of “The South Sea Academy,” for the sons of chiefs, who were to be in residence, and little Pomare amongst them. The part to be played by Brother Nott was to be taken as headmaster by a later ar rival, Rev. J. M. Orsmond.

Coronation Of Pomare 111.

The programme ready, great prepara tions were made at Papaoa for the crown ing, which took place on April 21, 1824, the boy king not yet four years old.

Happily we have an account of this remarkable event in South Sea history from the pen of a contemporary witness, as it appears in the Command Papers Presented to the British Parliament , cov ering the years 1822-1847. The transla tion reads as follows. The only difficulty

to be met with are the sites mentioned, the names of that day being long disused.

To-day they are Arue and Papaoa, where in stood the vast Royal Mission Chapel.

There were two classes of people in that ceremony, some were ungodly and others were godly. (1) Those who carried the Tiari and the Oroa (flowers) were Mauihi-u-iti Vahine, Terai mano Vahine, Tuehau Va hine (women), and Tehapai. They threw the flowers along the road. (2) Next were the children of the mis sionaries and their wives. (3) Next was Mahine, His office was to carry the Word of God. Messrs. Tyer man and Nott were on his right; Messrs.

Bennet and Henry on his left; they as sisted Mahine. (4) Next were the missionaries. (5) Next to them was Utami. He car ried the Laws; he was assisted by Paofai, on his right, and by Paraita, on his left. (6) Next was Tati, who carried the Crown; Hapoto on his right, Onee on his left. (7) Next to them was Pomare, and the people who carried him, namely Taituma taata, Heivae, Uoho and Laaviri, on his right; Teupoopaari, Priui, Roura and Te hope on his left. Aita Vahine, Maihara Vahine, Tenania Vahine (women) were also on his left; and Taaroa Vahine (mother), Aimata (sister) and Tera taue (aunt) on his right. (8) Next was Pomare’s hunoa (first husband of his sister), Tamatoa on his right and Tahitoe on his left. (9) Next was Fenuapeho. He carried

t.h» table to place the crown upon. Pahi titia carried the oil (coconut) for an ointing the king. All the governors and district judges assisted them. (10) We went inland by the way of Taipu. It was there where Pomare 111. was crowned. (11) Then all the royal party, the governors, the missionaries, aid the judges, and the society were assembled together. (12) After Mr. Crook, the priest, fin ished prayer, Mr. Henry anointed the king and placed the crown upon his head (13) Mr. Nott read the Laws and pardoned all the guilty. Mr. Wilson ex horted the King. Mr. Davies prayed, and Mr. Jones read a hymn. Mr. Wilson prayed. When finished we returned to Outuaiai. There Mr. Henry prayed. These were the words of God; “Exalt the King and fear God.” There it finished.

So far, this witness. But was Henry, the Archbishop of the day, and Nott merely his assistant? Henry himself makes answer. Writing from Moorea, October 15, 1845 (31 years later) he says: “King Pomare 111., that young prince, whom I anointed on the occasion, and on whose head my late reverend Brother Nott placed the Crown.”

One hopes so, for when the crash came in December, 1808, Henry had fled, but the unflinching Nott stood fast.

Ariipaea the Regent is lost to us, ap pearing under another name, whilst of the other personalities mentioned, Messrs Tyerman and Bennet were newcomers on the scene, being the delegation sent out from home to report on the missionary

work being carried on by the society throughout the world—Rennet alone com pleted the tour, Tyerman dying on Mada gascar.

The infant’s brother-in-law was Tapoa, of Pora Pora. In 1822 when Aimata was eight years of age and Tapoa' 16. there was a public betrothment of the two, which was looked upon as “marriage” according to the custom of the country and Tapoa was then given the name of Pomare as an honour.

Tati (1770-1864) had every right to his high post. He was the leading chief, had seen Cook in his childhood days, stood by the Pomares, both father and son, through stress and storm, and had re fused the Regency, though hard pressed to accept it. He was of Papara, the last district to bend the knee to the Pomares.

Mr. Crook, “the priest,” had played no no small part in the new king’s life, as his daily journal shows. He was the ac coucheur assisted by his well trained wife. June 25, 1820; “Mrs. Crook took the child, managed and dressed it in the English fashion . . . the king would al low no one to touch the child but Mrs.

Crook. June 26: The infant was most of the day at our house with Pomare Vahine . . . Our daughter Mary is de nominated his mother, being the friend of the queen. The child is also called Mrs. Crook’s son.”

He it was who baptised the child, September 10, in the presence of a thous and people, where now he was crowned, and makes bold to address the directors in London on his behalf in a letter dated December 21. 1821: “I shall be glad to

receive dresses for young Prince Pomare who is now IS months old, some superior, soma common.” A godfather of quality, with every right to play his part in open ing the Coronation proceedings.

It was a good send off even if the principal personage might well wonder what it was all about, being but three years and ten months old. (To be concluded)