200 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
of all their regulations for domestic comfort, and 
the spring of every household virtue. It was 
thought that the season of assembling for public 
lecture during the week, which was on Wednesday 
evening, would be preferable to the Sabbath, for 
giving the notice, or, what is termed with us, pub¬ 
lishing the bans, but the marriage was not to take 
place till the following week. Though the law 
only prescribes the terms in which the contract 
shall be made, the people usually expect a short 
address, and prayer for the Divine blessing; and 
on that account, in general, prefer applying to the 
Missionaries to perform the ceremony. No fees 
are received by either party for solemnizing the 
marriage, or entering the record. In the revision 
of the code in 1826, this law was considerably 
improved, by annexing to the public announce¬ 
ment of the intention of the parties, the rea¬ 
son why such public declaration was made, 
viz. that any who knew of just cause why the 
marriage should not take place, might declare 
the same. 
Dogs are numerous in the islands, though not 
now reared as formerly for food. They are 
generally indolent, unsightly, and ill-bred, and 
are a great nuisance in most of the settlements. 
Disputes are not frequent among the natives, but 
they arise as often on account of the depredations 
of their dogs and hungry pigs, as from any other 
cause. Neither their dogs nor swine are con¬ 
fined, but they prowl about, destroying fowls, 
kids, and young pigs. Several instances have 
occurred, in which children have been attacked 
and injured by savage and hungry swine. Under 
such circumstances, formerly, redress would have 
been sought, or vengeance taken, with the club 
