248 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
CHAP. X. 
Customs of the islanders—Infanticide—Numbers de¬ 
stroyed—Universality of the crime—Mode of its per¬ 
petration—Reasons assigned for its continuance—Dis¬ 
proportion it occasioned between the sexes—Former 
treatment of children—Ceremonies performed at the 
temple on the birth of chiefs—Manner of carrying their 
children—Evils of neglecting parental discipline— 
Practice of tatauing—Tradition of its origin—Account 
of the dye instruments and process of tatauing—Variety 
of figures or patterns—The operation painful, and fre¬ 
quently fatal—Marriage contracts—Betrothment—An¬ 
cient usages—Ceremonies in the temple—Conduct of 
the relatives—Prevalence of polygamy. 
Next to the occupations and amusements of the 
islanders, such of their customs and observances 
as were peculiar or striking require to be briefly 
noticed. Many of their usages were singular, 
some remarkably interesting, and others horribly 
cruel. Among the latter kind, the murder of their 
children, violating the closest and tenderest sym¬ 
pathies of human nature, and seizing its victims 
with their first consciousness of existence, stands 
prominently forward. 
Infanticide, the most revolting and unnatural 
crime that prevails, even amongst the habitations 
of cruelty which fill the dark places of the earth, 
was intimately connected with the execrable Areoi 
institution. This affecting species of murder was 
