HAWAIIAN GROUP. 23 



people in common, of whom Kamehameha I. was the head, and had 

 the management of the landed property. Wherefore there was not 

 formerly and is not now any person who could or can convey away 

 the smallest portion of land without the consent of the one who had or 

 has the direction of the kingdom. 



These are the persons who have had the direction of it from that 

 time down: Kamehameha II., Kaahumanu I., and at the present time 

 Kamehameha III. These persons have had the direction of the king- 

 dom dow T n to the present time, and all documents written by them, and 

 no others, are the documents of the kingdom. 



The kingdom is permanently confirmed to Kamehameha III. and 

 his heirs, and his heir shall be the person whom he and the chiefs 

 shall appoint during his lifetime ; but should there be no appointment, 

 then the decision shall rest with the chiefs and House of Represent- 

 atives. 



PREROGATIVES OF THE KTNG. 



The prerogatives of the king are as follows. He is the sovereign of 

 all the people and all the chiefs. The kingdom is his. He shall 

 have the direction of the army and all the implements of war of the 

 kingdom. He also shall have the direction of the government property, 

 the poll-tax, the land-tax, the three days' monthly labour ; though in 

 conformity to the laws. He also shall retain his own private lands, 

 and lands forfeited for the non-payment of taxes shall revert to him. 

 He shall be the chief judge of the supreme court, and it shall be his 

 duty to execute the laws of the land, also all decrees and treaties with 

 other countries; all, however, in accordance with the laws. 



It shall also be his prerogative to form treaties with the rulers of all 

 other kingdoms, also to receive all ministers sent by other countries, 

 and he shall have power to confirm agreements w r ith them. 



He shall also have power to make war in time of emergency when 

 the chiefs cannot be assembled, and he shall be the commander-in- 

 chief. He shall also have power to transact all important business of 

 the kingdom, which is not by law assigned to others. 



RESPECTING THE PREMIER OF THE KINGDOM. 



It shall be the duty of the king to appoint some chief of rank and 

 ability to be his particular minister, whose title shall be Premier of 

 the Kingdom. His office and business shall be the same as that of 

 Kaahumanu I. and Kaahumanu II. For even in the time of Kame- 



