388 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES* 
the reign of Tamehameha, forty days was the 
usual period; during it, ten or five days, and 
sometimes only one dny. In this respect, the 
tabu's, or seasons of restriction, in Hawaii, appear 
to have exceeded those of the South Sea Islands: 
the longest season of prohibition, in Huahine, 
known to the natives, was the rahui of Mohono, 
which lasted ten or twelve years. It was during 
this period that the hogs became so numerous and 
large, that they destroyed all the feis, or mountain 
plantains, excepting those growing on the summits 
of the highest mountains. 
The tabu seasons were either common or strict. 
During a common tabu, the men were only re¬ 
quired to abstain from their usual avocations, and 
attend at the heiau when the prayers were offered 
every morning and evening. But, during the 
season of strict tabu, every fire and light on the 
island or district must be extinguished ; no canoe 
must be launched on the water, no person must 
bathe; and, except those whose attendance was 
required at the temple, no individual must be seen 
out of doors ; no dog must bark, no pig must 
grunt, no cock must crow,—or the tabu would be 
broken, and fail to accomplish the object designed. 
On these occasions, they tied up the mouths of 
the dogs and pigs, and put the fowls under a cala¬ 
bash, or fastened a piece of cloth over their eyes. 
All the common people prostrated themselves, with 
their faces touching the ground, before the sacred 
chiefs, when they walked out, particularly during 
tabu; and neither the king nor the priests were 
allowed to touch any thing,—even their food was 
put into their mouths by another person. 
The tabu was imposed either by proclamation, 
when the crier or herald of the priests went round, 
