36 HAWAIIAN GROUP. 



occurring from one cause or another. The dispossessing a tenant of 

 his lands, also took away nearly all the personal property which might 

 have been acquired from them, either directly or indirectly. 



The greatest confusion and changes took place at the deaths of the 

 chiefs or landholders, the right of the fief descending to heirs, who, as 

 a matter of course, had followers of their own, and almost invariably 

 dispossessed the old agents and put their own favourites in their places. 



On the death of a king, these changes of course affected the whole 

 kingdom ; and on the demise of a chief, whatever territory had been 

 subject to his sway. Under the present government the feudal tenure 

 still exists, but it is greatly modified. 



The new laws define the rights of the different classes, and prescribe 

 the rules by which each class shall be governed. 



Officers are also appointed to see that the regulations are observed, 

 and to assess damages according to law when the rights of one class 

 are invaded by those of another. 



No tax can be now laid, neither can any property be seized, not 

 even by the king, except by express provision of the law, and no land- 

 lord dispossesses his tenants of their fief. The right of tenure is declared 

 perpetual, except being subject to forfeiture for non-payment of rent. 

 The right to fix the amount of rent is regulated by law, and the people 

 have a voice in the legislature, so that no new tax can be laid without 

 the assent of their representatives. 



These are great modifications, which one would suppose must have 

 been found immediately effective; but the evils intended to be remedied 

 are but partially removed, owing to the fact that the officers who are 

 employed are ignorant, and fear to thwart the interests of the chiefs 

 and others. These evils, as the natives improve and become more 

 familiar with their laws and rights, must entirely vanish. Even if the 

 abuses should continue, they can be of no great extent, for the number 

 of the superior lords of the soil is reduced to two, of whom one is the 

 king. 



The taxation under the old kings was sufficiently regular ; it was 

 annually assessed by the king's agents appointed for that purpose, and 

 fluctuated but little. It did not extend below the ilis or plantations, 

 which were taxed as follows : 



One hog, 

 " dog, 

 " fish-net. 

 " fishing-line, 

 " cluster of feathers. 



Twenty tapas, a part square, and a part long and narrow: the 



