348 cook's second voyage may, 



we may judge from what we have seen, it has sufficient 

 stability, and is by no means badly constructed. 



The Eowas and Whannos always eat with the king; 

 indeed I do not know if any one is excluded from 

 this privilege but the Tontous. For, as to the women 

 they are out of the question, as they never eat with 

 the men, let their rank be ever so much elevated. 



Notwithstanding this kind of kingly establishment, 

 there was very little about Otoo's person or court, 

 by which a stranger could distinguish the king from 

 the subject. I seldom saw him dressed in any thing 

 but a common piece of cloth wrapped round his loins; 

 so that he seemed to avoid all unnecessary pomp, 

 and even to demean himself more than any other of 

 the Earees. I have seen him work at a paddle, in 

 coming to and going from the ship, in common 

 with the other paddlers ; and even when some of his 

 Toutous sat looking on. All have free access to him, 

 and speak to him wherever they see him, without 

 the least ceremony : such is the easy freedom which 

 every individual of this happy isle enjoys. I have 

 observed that the chiefs of these isles are more 

 beloved, by the bulk of the people, than feared. May 

 we not from hence conclude, that the government is 

 mild and equitable ? 



We have mentioned that Waheatoua of Tiabarou 

 is related to Otoo. The same may be said of the 

 chiefs of Eimeo, Tapamannoo, Huaheine, Ulietea, 

 Otaha, and Bolabola ; for they are all related to the 

 royal family of Otaheite. It is a maxim with the 

 Earees, and others of superior rank, never to inter- 

 marry with the Toutous, or others of inferior rank. 

 Probably this custom is one great inducement to the 

 establishment of these societies called Eareeoies. It 

 is certain that these societies greatly prevent the in- 

 crease of the superior classes of people, of which they 

 are composed, and do not at all interfere with the in- 

 feriors or Toutous ; for I never heard of one of these 

 being an Earreoy. Nor did I ever hear that a Toutou 



