372 MARRIAGE. [1840. 



other objects of his desire, unabashed by her presence. The 

 marriage relation was scarcely acknowledged, and where the 

 tie existed at all, it was regarded but as a rope of sand. 

 Polygamy, or concubinage of the grossest character, was 

 common among the higher chiefs throughout the group. Al- 

 most the first changes brought about by the missionaries 

 affected the relations between the two sexes, and proceeding 

 from one step to another, they finally caused it to be enacted, 

 that marriages should not be solemnized between parties who 

 were unable to read. It is somewhat doubtful whether this 

 law is not too severe, and by its great stringency often lead 

 to illicit connections. It is very natural that it should have 

 that tendency ; and it is certainly no reproach to the mission- 

 ary, that his theory, however correct in itself, does not always 

 prove beneficial in practice. The law has been hitherto en- 

 forced, however, pretty strictly ; and adultery and fornication 

 are punished with considerable severity. Persons found guilty 

 of these offences are imprisoned in the forts or otherwise con- 

 fined, and put at hard labor — the women being compelled to 

 work with wreaths of flowers about their heads. 



Most of the prisoners are employed on the roads, and in 

 quarrying coral stone from the reefs for governmental pur- 

 poses. There are particular days, also, called pah mi days, 

 on which the kanakas are obliged to work for the govern- 

 ment. This class of the population have received altogether 

 more credit than they really deserved for their industry. It 

 is but their humiliating and debased condition, nevertheli ss, 

 that produces the apathy, indifference, and indolence, which 

 they show in every feature of their countenances, when col- 

 lected together in groups, or arranged in long files, in the 

 streets of Honolulu, and sitting squatted upon their hams — 

 their favorite attitude — perfectly listless and immovable, until 

 the voice of the overseer or director arouses them for the re- 

 sumption of their task. Mere machines, endowed but with 

 life, they have nothing to live or to hope for, except the grati- 

 fication of the animal passions and appetites. No system of 

 society can be sound, or permanently prosperous, that tolerates 



