177D. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. Ill 



CHAP. VIII. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS CONTINUED. —- 



GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE DIVIDED INTO THREE CLASSES. 



POWER OF EREE-TABOO. GENEALOGY OF THE KINGS OF 



OWHYHEE AND MOWEE. POWER OF THE CHIEFS. STATE 



OF THE INFERIOR CLASS. PUNISHMENT OF CRIMES. RE- 

 LIGION. SOCIETY OF PRIESTS. THE ORONO. THEIR 



IDOLS. SONGS CHANTED BY THE CHIEFS, BEFORE THEY 



DRINK AVA. HUMAN SACRIFICES. — CUSTOM OF KNOCKING 



OUT THE FORE-TEETH. NOTIONS WITH REGARD TO A FU- 

 TURE STATE. — MARRIAGES. REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF 



JEALOUSY. FUNERAL RITES. 



I he people of these islands are manifestly divided 

 into three classes. The first are the Erees, or chiefs, 

 of each district; one of whom is superior to the rest, 

 and is called at Owhyhee Eree-taboo, and Eree Moee. 

 By the first of these words they express his absolute 

 authority ; and by the latter, that all are obliged to 

 prostrate themselves (or put themselves to sleep, as 

 the word signifies) in his presence. The second class 

 are those who appear to enjoy a right of property, 

 without authority. The third are the towtows, or ser- 

 vants, who have neither rank nor property. 



It is not possible to give any thing like a system- 

 atical account of the subordination of these classes to 

 each other, without departing from that strict veracity, 

 which, in works of this nature, is more satisfactory 

 than conjectures, however ingenious. I will there- 

 fore content myself with relating such facts, as we 

 were witnesses to ourselves, and such accounts as we 

 thought could be depended upon ; and shall leave 

 the reader to form, from them, his own ideas of the 

 nature of their government. 



