430 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
some of the islands, was frequently bound hand and 
foot, placed in an old decayed canoe, towed out to sea, 
and turned adrift. The canoe speedily filled, and the 
culprit, being bound, soon sunk beneath the waves. 
Adultery among the highest ranks has been punished 
with death by decapitation. 
In the transactions of barter among themselves, there 
are several regulations which they punctually observe. 
No bargain was considered binding till the articles 
were actually exchanged, and the respective owners 
expressed themselves satisfied. Afterwards there was 
no withdrawing, however injurious the bargain might 
be to either party. 
There is, in the Sandwich Islands, no class of men, 
either peasants or mechanics, who are regularly em¬ 
ployed as day-labourers, or who receive for their work 
a stipulated payment, excepting those employed by 
foreigners. In hiring workmen to dig stone, burn lime, 
build a house or canoe, &c. it is a common practice 
among the natives themselves to make the bargain 
with a petty chief, who requires the labour of all his 
dependants in its fulfilment. They usually pay before¬ 
hand ; and those who have received such remuneration 
are bound, when called upon, to perform their work, or 
have their property seized, and their plantations plun¬ 
dered. 
These, and several similar regulations, are generally 
received, and govern the conduct of the people. The 
king can dispense with any of them; but such conduct 
would be contrary to the established usage, and is sel 
dom done. The will of the king, however, being the 
supreme law, the government is more or less arbitrary 
as his disposition is humane or vindictive and crueL 
