THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
paid him on every occafion a viftble obedience, and were 
themfelves much refpedfed by the reft of the people. 
PROPERTY. 
Confidering that during the time our people remained on 
thefe iflands, their minds were principally engaged by their 
own concerns, it will hardly be fuppofed they had much lei- 
fure to inveftigate a fubjedl of this nature.—As far as they 
could obtain intelligence on this point, they underftood 
that the natives only poffefled a property in their work 
and labour, but no abfolute one in the foil, of which the 
King appeared to be general proprietor.—A man’s houfe, 
furniture, or canoe, was conftdered as his private property; 
as was alfo the land allotted him, as long as he occupied and 
cultivated it; but whenever he removed with his family to 
another place, the ground he held reverted to the King, 
who gave it to whom he pleafed, or to thofe who folicited 
to cultivate it. Every family occupied fome land for their 
maintenance, neceffity impofed this labour on them; and the 
portion of time which they could fpare from providing for 
their natural wants, pafled in the exercife of fuch little arts, 
as, while they kept them induftrious and adtiv'e, adminiftered 
to their convenience and comfort. 
Q ft 
297 
CHAPTER 
