appears to be very abfolute. Many inftances of this oc¬ 
curred daily during our ftay amongft them, and have been 
already related. The people, on the other hand, pay them 
the moft implicit obedience ; and this Hate of fervility has 
manifeftly had a great effect in debating both their minds 
and bodies. It is, however, remarkable, that the Chiefs 
were never guilty, as far at. lead: as came within my know¬ 
ledge, of any afts of cruelty or injuftice, or even of infolent 
behaviour toward them; though, at the fame time, they 
exercifed their power over one another in the moft haughty 
and oppreflive manner. Of this I fhall give two inftances.^ 
A Chief of the lower order had behaved with great civility 
to the mafter of the fhip, when he went to examine Kara- 
kakooa bay, the day before the fhip firft arrived there; and, 
in return, I afterward carried him on board, and introduced 
him to Captain Cook, who invited him to dine with us. 
While we were at table, Pareea entered, whofe face but too- 
plainly manifefted his indignation, at feeing our gueft in fo 
honourable a fituation. He immediately feized him by the 
hair of the head, and was proceeding to drag him out of 
the cabin, when the Captain interfered ; and, after a great 
deal of altercation, all the indulgence we could obtain, with¬ 
out coming to a quarrel with Pareea, was, that our gueft 
fhould be fuffered to remain, being feated upon the floor, 
whilft Pareea filled his place at the table. At another time, 
when Terreeoboo firft came on board the Refolution, Maiha- 
maiha, who attended him, finding Pareea on deck, turned 
him out of the ftiip in the moft ignominious manner and 
yet Pareea, we certainly knew, to be a man of the firft 
confequence. 
How far the property of the lower clafs is fecured againft 
the rapacity and.defpotifm of the great Chiefs, I cannot fay; 
but 
