POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES, 
347 
reign's name proclaimed in every district. If respected, 
and allowed to pass, it was considered an acknowledg¬ 
ment by the raatiras and chiefs, of his succession to the 
government 5 but if broken, it was regarded as an act of 
rebellion, or an open declaration of war. Numerous 
ceremonies were performed at the marae, a splendid 
establishment was forthwith formed for the young king, 
and a large train of attendants accompanied him to what¬ 
ever place he was conveyed. 
Every affair important to the internal welfare of the 
nation, or its foreign relations, continued to be trans¬ 
acted by the father, and those whom he had formerly 
associated as his counsellors | but every edict was issued 
in the name and on the behalf of the young ruler | and 
though the whole of the executive government might 
remain in the hands of the father, he only acted as regent 
for his son, and was regarded as such by the nation. 
The insignia of regal authority, and the homage which 
the father had been accustomed to receive from the peo¬ 
ple, were at once transferred to his successor. The lands, 
and other sources of the king's support, were appro¬ 
priated to the maintenance of the household establishment 
of the infant ruler | and the father rendered him those 
demonstrations of inferiority, which he himself had 
heretofore required from the people. 
This remarkable custom was not confined to the family 
of the sovereign, but prevailed among the hui arii and 
the raatiras. In both these classes, the eldest son imme¬ 
diately at his birth received the honours and titles which 
his father had hitherto borne. 
It is not easy to trace the origin or discover the design 
of a usage so singular, and apparently of such high 
antiquity, among a people to whom it is almost peculiar. 
