14«1« cook's voyage to march, 



have often had occasion to mention, he being the son 

 of Kaihooa, the deceased brother of Terreeoboo. 

 Should he also die without issue, they could not tell 

 who would succeed ; for the two youngest sons of 

 Terreeoboo, one of whom he appears to be exceed- 

 ingly fond of, being born of a woman of no rank, would, 

 from this circumstance, be debarred all right of suc- 

 cession. We had not an opportunity of seeing queen 

 Rora-rora, whom Terreeoboo had left behind at 

 Mowee ; but we have already had occasion to take 

 notice, that he was accompanied by Kanee Kaberaia, 

 the mother of the two youths, to whom he was very 

 much attached. 



From this account of the genealogy of the Owhyhee 

 and Mowee monarchs, it is pretty clear that the 

 government is hereditary ; which also makes it very 

 probable, that the inferior titles, and property itself, 

 descend in the same course. With regard to 

 Perreeorannee, we could only learn, that he is an 

 Eree-taboo ; that he was invading the possession of 

 Taheeterree, but on what pretence we were not 

 informed ; and that his grandsons governed the 

 islands to leeward. 



The power of the Erees over the inferior classes of 

 people appears to be very absolute. Many instances 

 of this occurred daily during our stay amongst them, 

 and have been already related. The people, on the 

 other hand, pay them the most implicit obedience ; 

 and this state of servility has manifestly had a great 

 effect in debasing both their minds and bodies. It 

 is, however, remarkable, that the chiefs were never 

 guilty, as far at least as came within my knowledge, 

 of any acts of cruelty or injustice, or even of insolent 

 behaviour toward them ; though, at the same time, 

 they exercised their power over one another in the 

 most haughty and oppressive manner. Of this I shall 

 give two instances. A chief of the lower order had 

 behaved with great civility to the master of the ship, 

 when he went to examine Karakakooa bay, the day 



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