TAHITI.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 51, 6 April 1844, Page 2

TAHITI.

We have not received any news from Tahiti for a long time past. The arrival of the Shamrock has however brought us intelligence at the nature of which we are not surprised, although extremely sorry^ We are informed by Captain Daldy, that the proceedings of the French at Tahiti are involving bofli the settlers and natives in one general ruin. The peaceful, simple and kind. Government of the Native Princess Pomari has been completely set aside by the barbarous French, who have now openly assumed the Internal as well as External Government of Tahiti, and the unfortunate Queen has been obliged to take tefuge aboard a small British vessel of war, now at ; Tahiti. On account of the aggressions of the French Governor, the Queen threw herself under the protection of Lieutenant Hunt, the commander of this veEsel, who generously and gallantly took herself and her young son under the protection of the British flag, and they are now living aboard his small vessel, waiting the decision .of England and the other civilized powers of Europe, to whom she has appealed against the cruelties of the French. We are unable this week to notice this subject fully, but we shall publish particulars in our next. Tahiti is at present, by all accounts, under a military despotism of the most disgraceful character. There is I neither protection of property nor any respect for the persons of Natives, or the subjects of European powers. The ruffians who have been sent by Prance to establish her dominion in the Pacific appear to have forgotten that such a thing as civilization ever existed. Their people have been gallantly driven off the Marquesas by the Natives,with the exception of a small military force, who are confined to their fort, beyond which they dare not venture, for fear of being shot ; and as they were obliged to abandon the Marquesas, to which they had no right or claim, they are now determined on seizing upon the lands of the inoffensive Tahitians. * We trust the European powers will oppose their infamous proceedings. A large British war steamer had arrived at Tahiti two days before the Shamrocft left. The schooner Union was sold at Tahiti by Styles, for The Challenger was also at Tahiti, and was likewise sold to the French by her Captain, Hayes, for about i?8oo. Agriculture and business were completely suspended on account of the French outrages ; and the Natives were seriously preparing to oppose their pretensions.