PQl YNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
365 
CHAP. XIII. 
Power of the chiefs and proprietors of land—Banishment and confiscation 
—The king’s messenger—The nian, an emblem of authority—Ancient 
usages in reference to crime, &c.—Fatal effects of jealousy—Seizure of 
property—Punishment of theft—Public works—Supplies for the king-— 
Despotic rapacity—Extortion of the king’s servants—Unorganized state 
of civil polity—Desire a code of Christian laws—Advice and conduct 
of the Missionaries—Preparation of the laws—Public enactment by the 
king in a national assembly at Tahiti—Capital punishments—Manner of 
conducting public trials—Establishment of laws in Raiatea—Prepara¬ 
tion of those for Huahine. 
Every chief was the sovereign of his own district, though 
all acknowledged the supremacy of the king. Each 
island was divided into a number of large portions, or 
districts, called Mataina a term also applied to the inha¬ 
bitants of a district. These mataina had distinct names, 
and were under the government of a chieftain of rank 
or dignity belonging to the reigning family, or to the 
raatiras. This individual was the baron of the domain, 
or the lord of the manor, and was succeeded in his 
possessions and his office by his son, or the nearest of 
his kindred, with a fresh appointment from the king. 
For treason, rebellion, or withholding supplies, 
individuals were liable to banishment, and confiscation 
of property. The king had the prerogative of no¬ 
minating his successor, but could not appropriate the 
lands of the exile to his own use. The removal of a chief 
