POLYNESIA. 31 



an arbitrary exercise of their power by the great variety of interests 

 which exists among them, and by the fear of rendering some of their 

 adherents disaffected, and thus strengthening the opposite party. 

 Accordingly we found nowhere in the Pacific such a general diffusion 

 of the means of subsistence and enjoyment, or so little difference in 

 point of comfort and ease of life between the higher and lower classes. 



In Tonga the system of government is, at present, not unlike that 

 of Samoa. When the islands were visited by Cook, Mumui was 

 king, and possessed great, though not arbitrary, power. His son and 

 successor, Tuku Aho, was put to death for his tyranny by one of his 

 subordinate chieftains, since which time the political power remains 

 in the hands of the principal chiefs, though the kingly title is still 

 given to a son of Tuku Aho. This title is Tui-Kana-kabolo, or Lord 

 of Kana-kabolo, the district in which he is crowned. It is not 

 directly hereditary, for the person who holds it can only obtain it by 

 the suffrages of the chiefs ; but they usually elect some one of the 

 family to which the last king belonged either a brother, a son, or a 

 nephew. The whole island of Tonga is divided into districts, each 

 of which has a chief, who is nominally appointed by the king ; but 

 this appointment must be made according to certain received usages, 

 and must, moreover, be confirmed by the whole body of the chiefs. 

 The official titles of these lordships are sometimes derived from the 

 name of the district, as, Tui-Belehaki, Lord of Belehaki ; but more fre- 

 quently they are distinct appellations, of unknown origin, asVaea, the 

 official title of the chief of Houma (whose proper name was, in 1840, 

 Loloa) ; Ata, for the district of Hihifo, Lavaka for that of Bea, &c. 

 In one view, the government may be considered as a kind of " family 

 compact," for the persons holding the offices and titles above-men- 

 tioned address one another by the names of father, son, uncle, grand- 

 father, and the like, without any reference to their real relationship. 

 Thus Taufahau, in 1840, notwithstanding his great power and influ- 

 ence, as sovereign of Habai and Vavau, was considered as a mere 

 youth, a " grandson," by the haughty office-bearers of Tonga, and in 

 a Arawa-party was obliged to seat himself at the foot of the ring, among 

 the common people and chiefs of low rank. 



Next to the chiefs are the matabules, who are the same class as the 

 tulafales of Samoa. Their power, however, is less, as that of the 

 chiefs is greater, than in the latter group. The lower orders consist 

 of muas and tuas (meaning literally, those before and those behind). 

 The former are the relatives of matabules, who may succeed them in 



