to improve the
value of real estate in Partoowye, we made inquiries; and learned that some
years previous the block had been thrown up by a veritable Yankee (one might
have known that), a house-carpenter by trade, and a bold, enterprising fellow by
nature.
    Put ashore from his ship, sick, he first went to work and got well; then
sallied out with chisel and plane, and made himself generally useful. A sober,
steady man, it seems, he at last obtained the confidence of several chiefs, and
soon filled them with all sorts of ideas concerning the alarming want of public
spirit in the people of Imeeo. More especially did he dwell upon the humiliating
fact of their living in paltry huts of bamboo, when magnificent palaces of
boards might so easily be mortised together.
    In the end, these representations so far prevailed with one old chief, that
the carpenter was engaged to build a batch of these wonderful palaces. Provided
with plenty of men, he at once set to work; built a saw-mill among the
mountains, felled trees, and sent over to Papeetee for nails.
    Presto! the castle rose; but alas, the roof was hardly on, when the Yankee's
patron, having speculated beyond his means, broke all to pieces, and was
absolutely unable to pay one plug of tobacco in the pound. His failure involved
the carpenter, who sailed away from his creditors in the very next ship that
touched at the harbour.
    The natives despised the rickety palace of boards; and often lounged by,
wagging their heads, and jeering.
    We were told that the queen's residence was at the extreme end of the
village; so, without waiting for the doctor to procure a fiddle, we suddenly
resolved upon going thither at once, and learning whether any privy
councillorships were vacant.
    Now, although there was a good deal of my waggish comrade's nonsense about
what has been said concerning our expectations of court preferment, we,
nevertheless, really thought that something to our advantage might turn up in
that quarter.
    On approaching the palace grounds, we found them rather peculiar. A broad
pier of hewn coral rocks was built right out into the water; and upon this, and
extending into a grove adjoining, were some eight or ten very large native
houses, constructed in the handsomest style and enclosed together by a low
picket of bamboos, which embraced a considerable area.
    Throughout the Society Islands, the residences of the chiefs are mostly
found in the immediate vicinity of the sea; a site which gives them the full
benefit of