THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 157 



curred daily during our flay amongft them, and have been >779- 

 already related. The people, on the other hand, pay them 

 the moil implicit obedience; and this ftate of fervility has 

 manifeflly had a great effect in debafing both their minds 

 and bodies. It is, however, remarkable, that the Chiefs 

 were never guilty, as far at leaft as came within my know- 

 ledge, of any acts of cruelty or injuftice, or even of infolent 

 behaviour toward them ; though, at the fame time, they 

 exercifed their power over one another in the mod haughty 

 and oppreffive manner. Of this I mail give two inftances. 

 A Chief of the lower order had behaved with great civility 

 to the matter of the fhip, when he went to examine Kara- 

 kakooa bay, the day before the fhip firft arrived there ; and, 

 in return, I afterward carried him on board, and introduced 

 him to Captain Cook, who invited him to dine with us. 

 While we were at table, Pareea entered, whofe face but too 

 plainly manifefted his indignation, at feeing our guefl in fo 

 honourable a fituation. He immediately feized him by the 

 hair of the head, and was proceeding to drag him out of 

 the cabin, when the Captain interfered ; and, after a great 

 deal of altercation, all the indulgence we could obtain, 

 without coming to a quarrel with Pareea, was, that our gueft 

 mould be fuffered to remain, being featcd upon the floor, 

 whilft Pareea filled his place at the table. At another time, 

 when Terfeeoboo firft came on board the Refolution, Mai- 

 ha-maiha, who attended him, finding Pareea on deck, turned 

 him out of the fhip in the moll ignominious manner ; and 

 yet Pareea, we certainly knew, to be a man of the firft con- 

 fequence. 



How far the property of the lower clafs is fecured againft 



the rapacity and defpotifm of the great Chiefs, I cannot fay. 



but it fhould feem, that it is fufficiently protected againft 



1 private 



