POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
453 
laws. The first of those introduced at this time^ regard¬ 
ed the education or discipline of the children, and was 
designed to counteract the fugitive habits which the 
children indulged prior to the establishment of regular 
schools. Formerly the children were accustomed to 
resist all parental restraint, and, whenever they chose, to 
leave their parents’ abode, and associate with other chil¬ 
dren, or take up their residence in any other part of the 
island. 
The facility with which the means of support might 
in general be obtained, rendered it a matter of little or 
no inconvenience to the parties to whom such children 
might, at the age of eight, ten, or twelve years, attach 
themselves. The person with whose establishment they 
might unite, exercised no moral or guardian care over 
them; and their distance from the dwelling of their own 
parents, removed them from the restraint and superinten¬ 
dence of those on whom naturally devolved the preserva- 
tion of their morals and the formation of their character. 
To prevent the sanction and support which children 
absconding from their homes had been accustomed to 
receive, and to promote a more general attention to the 
reciprocal duties of parents and children, this regulation 
was introduced. 
Another enactment prohibited the revival of those 
amusements and dances which were immoral in their 
tendencies. 
A third prohibited husbands from ill-treating their 
wives. 
The fourth referred to their fisheries, and by fixing the 
proportion of fish taken which should be given to the 
king and governors, was adapted to prevent misunder¬ 
standing or dissatisfaction. 
