102 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
even accidentally trod, became sacred ; and the 
dwelling under which they might enter, must for 
ever after be vacated by its proprietors, and could 
be appropriated only to the use of these sacred 
personages. No individual was allowed to touch 
the body of the king or queen; and every one 
who should stand over them, or pass the hand over 
their heads, would be liable to pay for the sacri¬ 
legious act with the forfeiture of his life. It was 
on account of this supposed sacredness of person 
that they could never enter any dwellings, excepting 
those that were specially dedicated to their use, 
and prohibited to all others; nor might they tread 
on the ground in any part of the island but their 
own hereditary districts. 
The sovereign and his consort always appeared 
in public on men’s shoulders,* and travelled in 
this manner wherever they journeyed by land. 
They were seated on the neck or shoulders of 
their bearers, who were generally stout athletic 
men. The persons of the men, in consequence of 
their office, were regarded as sacred. The indi¬ 
viduals thus elevated appeared to sit with ease and 
security, holding slightly by the head, while their 
feet hung down on the breast, and were clasped 
in the arms of the bearer. When they travelled, 
they proceeded at a tolerably rapid pace, fre¬ 
quently six miles within the hour. A number of 
attendants ran by the side of the bearers, or fol¬ 
lowed in their train ; and when the men who car¬ 
ried the royal personages grew weary, they were 
relieved by others. 
The king and queen were always accompanied 
by several pair of sacred men, or bearers, and the 
* As represented in the engraving, inserted in the be¬ 
ginning of vol. ii. 
