1777' THE PACIFIC OCEAW l6l 



and engage the survivor and his adherents. If they 

 conquer, they take possession of the house, lands, 

 and goods of the other party ; but if conquered, the 

 reverse takes place. If a Manahoone kill the Toutou y 

 or slave of a chief, the latter sends people to take 

 possession of the lands and house of the former, who 

 flies either to some other part of the island, or 

 to some of the neighbouring islands. After some 

 months he returns, and finding his stock of hogs 

 much increased, he offers a large present of those, 

 with some red feathers, and other valuable articles, 

 to the Toutou's master, who generally accepts the 

 compensation, and permits him to repossess his house 

 and lands. This practice is the height of venality 

 and injustice ; and the slayer of the slave seems to 

 be under no farther necessity of absconding, than to 

 impose upon the lower class of people who are the 

 sufferers. For it does not appear, that the chief has 

 the least power to punish this Manahoone ; but the 

 whole management marks a collusion between him 

 and his superior, to gratify the revenge of the former, 

 and the avarice of the latter. Indeed, we need not 

 wonder that the killing of a man should be considered 

 as so venial an offence, amongst a people who do 

 not consider it as any crime at all, to murder their 

 own children. When talking to them about such 

 instances of unnatural cruelty, and asking, whether 

 the chiefs, or principal people were not angry, and 

 did not punish them ? I was told, that the chief neither 

 could nor would interfere in such cases ; and that 

 every one had a right to do with his own child what 

 he pleased. 



Though the productions, the people, and the cus- 

 toms and manners of all the islands in the neighbour- 

 hood, may, in general, be reckoned the same as at 

 Otaheite, there are a few differences which should be 

 mentioned, as this may lead to an enquiry about 

 more material ones hereafter, if such there be, of 

 which we are now ignorant. 



VOL. VI. M 



