Account of the Caroline Islands. 119 
voyages which these islanders undertake, their frequent visits to their 
neighbors, as well as their excursions even to the European colonies, 
have not changed the remarkable innocence of their manners, or 
taught the crime of theft. The inhabitants of the Auléai group, 
especially those of the island Feiss were less severe respecting the 
intercourse of their females with us; but in no instance, was the 
slightest impropriety of conduct detected in them. 
The expedition found on the Caroline islands, a young English- 
man, by the name of William Floyd, who had been left by a whale 
ship, and who had lived there eighteen months. Capt. Lurks took 
him on board, and learnt from him the following particulars relating 
to the manners of these islanders. 3 
A single chief reigns over the Fananou and the Mourilleu groups ; 
and the twenty islands composing them pay him an annual tribute of 
bread fruit, cocoa nuts, mats, &c. What is very surprising, is, that 
one island of the Fananou group is exempt from this tribute, and 
that its inhabitants disdain all communication with their neighbors. 
Although the king fishes himself, yet his people reserve for him the 
finest fish they take, and they support him in the most ample man- 
ner. Whatever he commands is law; and yet the king like the sub- 
ject, is subject to laws. If he wishes, for example, to marry a sec- 
ond time, he is obliged to pay the tribute demanded of all who enter 
anew into thisrelation. Neither can he take a wife without her con- 
sent. 
The aged men are generally chosen as the judges. ‘To be re- 
proved by these, is considered as the severest punishment that can 
overtake a person. When the case is one of great difficulty, they 
have recourse to the king, who obtains considerable advantage from 
their appeals, for the parties are obliged to make him handsome pres- 
ents when the trial is over. It is necessary to add, for the honor of 
the king, that he exerts himself to prevent the quarrels and dissen- 
sions which are liable to occur among his people, without regard to 
his personal interest in the affair. ‘The succession of the king is not 
hereditary. At his death, the people invite his brother to take his 
place, and in case he has no brother, the dignity is conferred upon 
one of the best friends of the deceased. ‘The person chosen, has 
no right to decline the office. The wisest person is always selected 
in preference to the most wealthy, and the most powerful. 
The men rise very early in the morning, and their first business is 
to repair to the shore, to wash, bathe, and rinse the mouth. It is un- 
