POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
23 
his dwelling, to provide an entertainment for him, 
though he should thereby expend every article of food 
he possessed ; and would generally divide his fish or his 
bread-fruit with any one, even a stranger, who should be 
in need, dr who should ask him for it. 
I am willing to afford them every possible degree of 
credit for the exercise of this truly amiable disposition f 
yet, when it is considered that a guest is not entertained 
day after day at his friend’s table, but that after one 
large collection of food has been presented, the visi¬ 
tor must provide for himself, while the host fre¬ 
quently takes but little further concern about him—• 
we are induced to think that the force of custom 
is as powerful in its influence on his mind, as that of 
hospitality. In connexion with this, it should be re¬ 
collected, that for every such entertainment, the indi¬ 
vidual expects to be reimbursed in kind, whenever he 
may visit the abode of his guest. Their ancient laws 
of government, also, imperiously required the poor 
industrious landholder, or farmer, to bring forth the 
produce of his garden or his field for the use of the 
chiefs, or the wandering and licentious Areois, whenever 
they might halt at his residence 5 and more individuals 
have been banished, or selected as sacrifices, for with¬ 
holding what these daring ramblers required, than 
perhaps for all other crimes. To withhold food from 
the king or chiefs, when they might enter a district, 
was considered a crime next to resisting the royal 
authority, or declaring war against the king ^ and 
this has in a great degree rendered the people so ready 
to provide an entertainment for those by whom they 
may be visited. 
Next to their hospitality, their cheerfulness and 
