visit a dog was the only guardian visible. He, indeed, rose with

an attitude so menacing that I was glad to lay hands on an old

barrel-hoop; and I think the weapon must have been familiar, for

the champion instantly retreated, and as I wandered round the court

and through the building, I could see him, with a couple of

companions, humbly dodging me about the corners. The prisoners'

dormitory was a spacious, airy room, devoid of any furniture; its

whitewashed walls covered with inscriptions in Marquesan and rude

drawings: one of the pier, not badly done; one of a murder;

several of French soldiers in uniform. There was one legend in

French: 'Je n'est' (sic) 'pas le sou.' From this noontide

quietude it must not be supposed the prison was untenanted; the

calaboose at Tai-o-hae does a good business. But some of its

occupants were gardening at the Residency, and the rest were

probably at work upon the streets, as free as our scavengers at

home, although not so industrious. On the approach of evening they

would be called in like children from play; and the harbour-master

(who is also the jailer) would go through the form of locking them

up until six the next morning. Should a prisoner have any call in

town, whether of pleasure or affairs, he has but to unhook the

window-shutters; and if he is back again, and the shutter decently

replaced, by the hour of call on the morrow, he may have met the

harbour-master in the avenue, and there will be no complaint, far

less any punishment. But this is not all. The charming French

Resident, M. Delaruelle, carried me one day to the calaboose on an

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