HAWAIIAN GROUP. 9 



council may consider as demanding an acquaintance with the usages 

 of civilized nations. 



The council, in which the government is in fact vested, is composed 

 of thirteen persons ranking as chiefs of the highest order, four of whom 

 are females. 



When any subject demands their consideration, the facts and reasons, 

 pro and con, are fully laid before the council, in a comprehensive and 

 simple manner, and the vote and decision of its members are had, 

 without any further recourse to Mr. Richards. The subject is always 

 acted upon with great deliberation, and frequently with much discri- 

 mination and judgment ; for not only are the chiefs a strong-minded 

 people, but the female members of the council are also remarkable 

 in this respect, and all appear desirous of doing what is right and 

 proper. 



An anecdote of what occurred at one of their deliberations, will, 1 

 think, illustrate their simple mode of coming to a proper decision, and 

 show that when they are made to understand that any act or regu- 

 lation will prove unjust, they are quite desirous to revise their own 

 intended vote. 



When they had under consideration the law relative to the descent 

 of property, and previous to its final passage, each was, as usual, 

 asked whether it should become a law. All had assented to its passage 

 except one of the female members, who, when the interrogatory was 

 put to her, laughed, but gave no answer. On being pressed, she said, 

 "The law to which you have assented, has it not passed? My vote 

 is not then needed." But, supposing from this, that she had reasons 

 for withholding her vote, they pressed her to speak, when she asked, 

 " Does not this proposed law give one-third of the property to the king, 

 and two-thirds to the heirs of every one?" Yes. "Is this just? How 

 differently does this affect one or two of the chiefs and myself! They 

 have no children ; I have four. My heirs will suffer, theirs will not. 

 This is not right." 



They saw the subject in a new light, and at once determined to 

 adjourn, for the purpose of thinking the affair over. They finally 

 came to the conclusion, that all the property of those who had children 

 should go to the offspring, but that of the property of those who had no 

 direct heirs, the king should be entitled to one-third. Thus stands the 

 law at present. 



On the 2d October, I received a visit from Mr. Richards, who com- 

 municated to me the desire of the king that I should visit him. In 

 conformity with this request, I called upon him. accompanied by 

 Captain Hudson. Although I had departed, after my first visit, 



VOL. iv. 2 



