90 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 



and can punish them at pleasure. Minor crimes are punished by the 

 offended party or his relatives, but in cases of importance, the decision 

 is made and the punishment ordered in council. 



The great and marked distinction between these natives and those 

 of Polynesia is the absence of the taboo system, or any laws or prohi- 

 bitions under the control of the priest, or chiefs, that are believed to 

 emanate from their gods. Mr. Hale remarks, that the word taboo 

 occurs in several compounds in their language having the meaning 

 of sacred, but is not used by itself. 



The succession to rank and property is hereditary. If a chief has 

 several children by different wives, the son of the mother of the 

 highest rank is the successor. If all the children should be equal in 

 rank, the eldest would receive twice as much land as the others ; or if 

 the father does not choose to divide his property, the eldest son would 

 receive the whole, and is obliged to support his brothers and sisters, 

 who are expected in return to work for him, and cannot marry without 

 his consent. Females can inherit property, and there are heiresses in 

 the Kingsmill Group whose wealth allures many suitors. Slaves are 

 held under strict subjection, are considered as personal property, and 

 cannot marry without the consent of their masters. 



The religious belief is of the simplest kind. The name of their 

 principal divinity is Wanigain. or Tabu-eriki. He is their most popu- 

 lar god, and considered by some the greatest. About two-thirds of 

 the people worship him as their tutelar divinity. The rest do not 

 acknowledge him, but have other deities ; and some worship the souls 

 of their departed ancestors, or certain birds, fish, and animals. A 

 female deity is the object of adoration to very many. She is called 

 Itivini, is reputed to be of a cruel disposition, and all the little children 

 who die are supposed to be killed and eaten by her. The natives 

 always refuse to eat the animals, fish, &c, worshipped by them, but 

 will readily catch them, that others may partake of the food. 



Tabu-eriki's image has been before described, and a wood-cut repre- 

 senting it will be found at the end of the chapter. The coral stone 

 which represents him is always tied round with cocoanut-leaves, and 

 these are changed once a month, to keep them constantly green. The 

 worship paid to this god consists in repeating prayers before this stone, 

 and depositing beside it a portion of the food prepared for their own 

 use. This is done not only at the time of festivals, but at their daily 

 meals, and also whenever they desire to propitiate his favour ; the first 



