MARRIAGE. 
435 
occasion are very few, and chiefly consist in the 
bridegroom’s casting a piece of tapa or native cloth 
over the bride, in the presence of her parents or 
relations. Feasting is general, and the friends of 
both parties contribute towards furnishing the 
entertainment. 
The marriage tie is loose, and the husband can 
dismiss his wife on any occasion. 
The number of males is much greater than that 
of females in all the islands, in consequence of the 
girls being more frequently destroyed in infancy, 
as less useful than the males for purposes of war, 
fishing, &c. We do not know the exact propor¬ 
tion here; but in the Society Islands, in all our 
early schools, the proportion of girls to boys was as 
three to four, or four to five, though, since the abo¬ 
lition of infanticide, the numbers are equal. 
Polygamy is allowed among all ranks, but prac¬ 
tised only by the chiefs, whose means enable them 
to maintain a plurality of wives. 
Among the higher ranks, marriage seems to be 
conducted on principles of political expediency, 
with a view to strengthen alliances and family in¬ 
fluence ; and among the reigning family, brothers 
and sisters marry. This custom, so revolting to 
every idea of moral propriety, that the mind is 
shocked at the thought of its existence, appears to 
have been long in use; and very recently a mar¬ 
riage was proposed at Maui, between the young 
prince and princess, both children of the same 
parents: a council of chiefs was held on the sub¬ 
ject, and all were favourable. The opinion of the 
Missionaries was asked. The chiefs assigned, as 
a reason, that, being the highest chiefs in the 
islands, they could not marry any others who were 
their equals, and ought not to form any alliances 
2 f 2 
