160 cook's voyage to dec. 



eldest son ; but he is obliged to maintain his brothers 

 and sisters, who are allowed houses on his estates. 



The boundaries of the several districts into which 

 Otaheite is divided, are, generally, either rivulets, or 

 low hills, which, in many places, jut out into the sea. 

 But the subdivisions into particular property are 

 marked by large stones, which have remained from one 

 generation to another. The removal of any of these 

 gives rise to quarrels, which are decided by arms ; 

 each party bringing his friends into the field. But if 

 any one complain to the E?*ee de hoi, he terminates 

 the difference amicably. This is an offence, however, 

 not common ; and long custom seems to secure pro- 

 perty here as effectually as the most severe laws do 

 in other countries. In conformity also to ancient prac- 

 tice established amongst them, crimes of a less gene- 

 neral nature are left to be punished by the sufferer, 

 without referring them to a superior. In this case, 

 they seem to think that the injured person will judge 

 as equitably as those who are totally unconcerned ; 

 and as long custom has allotted certain punish- 

 ments for crimes of different sorts, he is allowed to 

 inflict them, without being amenable to any other 

 person. Thus, if any one be caught stealing, which 

 is commonly done in the night, the proprietor of the 

 goods may put the thief instantly to death ; and if 

 any one should enquire of him after the deceased, it 

 is sufficient to acquit him, if he only inform them 

 of the provocation he had to kill him. But so severe 

 a punishment is seldom inflicted, unless the articles 

 that are stolen be reckoned very valuable ; such as 

 breast-plates and plaited hair. If only cloth, or even 

 hogs be stolen, and the thief escape, upon his being 

 afterward discovered, if he promise to return the 

 same number of pieces of cloth, or of hogs, no farther 

 punishment is inflicted. Sometimes, after keeping 

 out of the way for a few days, he is forgiven, or, at 

 most, gets a slight beating. If a person kill another 

 in a quarrel, the friends of the deceased assemble, 



