HOMAGE TO CHIEFS. 105 
neighbour carrying a friend or a new-comer on his 
shoulders, he attacks him—a fight ensues, for the 
possession of the prize—if the man who formerly 
possessed it is victorious, he goes home with his 
man on his shoulders, receives a hearty welcome, 
and is regarded by the whole district as a brave 
fellow ; whereas if he loses the prize, he is looked 
upon by all his friends as a coward. 
I am not aware that the highest rulers in the 
Society Islands received at any time the same 
kind of homage which the Hawaians occasionally 
paid to those chiefs who were considered to have 
descended from the gods. When these walked 
out during the season of tabu, the people pros¬ 
trated themselves, with their faces touching the 
ground, as they passed along. A mark of homage, 
however, equally humiliating to those who ren¬ 
dered it, and probably as flattering to the indi¬ 
viduals by whom it was received, was in far more 
extensive and perpetual use among the Tahitians. 
This was, the stripping down the upper garments, 
and uncovering the body as low as the waist, in 
the presence of the king. This homage was paid 
to the gods, and also to their temples. In passing 
these, every individual, either walking on the 
shore, or sailing in a canoe, removed whatever 
article of dress he wore upon the shoulders and 
breast, and passed uncovered the depository of the 
deities, the site of their altars, or the temples of 
their worship. 
Whenever the king appeared abroad, or the 
people approached his presence, this mark of 
reverence was required from all ranks; his own 
father and mother were not excepted, but were 
generally the first to uncover themselves. The 
people inhabiting the district through which he 
