1774. ROUND THE WORLD. 347 



the richness and fertility of Otaheite, (not forty 

 leagues in circuit,) than its supporting such a number 

 of inhabitants. 



This island made formerly but one kingdom ; how 

 long it has been divided into two, I cannot pretend 

 to say ; but I believe not long. The kings of Tia- 

 rabou are a branch of the family of those of Opou- 

 reonu ; at present, the two are nearly related ; and, 

 I think, the former is, in some measure, dependent 

 on the latter. Otoo is stiled Earee de hie of the 

 whole island ; and we have been told that Waheatoua, 

 the king of Tiarabou, must uncover before him, in 

 the same manner as the meanest of his subjects. This 

 homage is due to Otoo as Earee de hie of the isle, to 

 Tarevatou, his brother, and his second sister ; to the 

 one as heir, and to the other as heir apparent; his eldest 

 sister being married, is not entitled to this homage. 



The Eowas and Whannos we have sometimes seen 

 covered before the king, but whether by courtesy, 

 or by virtue of their office, we never could learn. 

 These men, who are the principal persons about the 

 king, and form his court, are generally, if not always, 

 his relations. Tee, whom I have so often mentioned, 

 was one of them. We have been told, that the Eowas, 

 who have the first rank, attend in their turns, a 

 certain number each day, which occasioned us to 

 call them lords in waiting ; but whether this was 

 really so, I cannot say. We seldom found Tee absent ; 

 indeed his attendance was necessary, as being best 

 able to negociate matters between us and them, on 

 which service he was always employed ; and he 

 executed it, I have reason to believe, to the satisfac- 

 tion of both parties. 



It is to be regretted, that we know little more of 

 this government than the general out-line ; for, of its 

 subdivisions, classes, or orders of the constituent parts, 

 how disposed, or in what manner connected, so as to 

 form one body politic, we know but little. We, how- 

 ever, are sure that it is of the feudal kind ; and, if 



