340 
POLYNPiSIAN RESEARCHES. 
CHAP. XIL 
Government of the South Sea Islands monarchical and arbitrary—Inti¬ 
mately connected with idolatry—Different ranks in society—Slavery— 
The proprietors of land—The regal family—Sovereignty hereditary— 
Abdication of the father in favour of the son—Distinctions of royalty— 
Modes of travelling—Sacredness of the king’s person—Homage of the 
people—Singular ceremonies attending the inauguration of the king— 
Language of the Tahitian court—The royal residences—Dress, &c.— 
Sources of revenue—Tenure of land—Division of the country—Na¬ 
tional councils—Forfeiture of possessions. 
The government of the South Sea Islands^ like that 
which prevails in Hawaii^ was an arbitrary monarchy. 
The supreme authority was vested in the king, and was 
hereditary in his family. It differed materially from the 
systems existing among the Marquesians in the east, and 
the New Zealanders in the south-west. There is no 
supreme ruler in either of these groups of islands, but 
the different tribes or clans are governed by their respec¬ 
tive chieftains, each of whom is, in general, independent 
of any other. Regarding the inhabitants of Tahiti, and 
the adjacent islands, as an uncivilized people, ignorant of 
letters and the arts, their modes of governing were 
necessarily rude and irregular. In many respects, how¬ 
ever, their institutions indicate great attention to the 
principles of government, an acquaintance with the 
means of controlling the conduct of man, and an advance- 
