THROUGH HAWAII. 
431 
His power extends, not only over the property, but 
over the liberty and lives of the people. This power 
is delegated by him to the governors of the different 
islands, and by them again to the chiefs of the districts. 
A chief takes the life of one of his own people for any 
offence he may commit, and no one thinks he has a 
right to interfere. But though the power of the chiefs 
is so absolute over their own people, it extends no 
further. A chief dare not for any offence punish a 
man belonging to another, but must complain to the 
chief on whose land the offender resides. 
The king is chief magistrate over the whole islands. 
The governors sustain the same office in the islands 
under their jurisdiction, and the chiefs of the districts 
are the arbitrators in all quarrels among their own 
people. A man dissatisfied with the decisions of his 
chief, may appeal to the governor, and finally to the 
king. They have no regular police, but the king has 
generally a number of chiefs in attendance, who, with 
the assistance of their own dependants, execute his 
orders. The governors and high chiefs have the same, 
and employ them in a similar manner when occasion 
requires. 
The house or front yard of the king or governor is 
the usual court of justice, and it is sometimes quite a 
court of equity. Judgment is seldom given till both 
parties are heard face to face. They have several 
ordeals for trying those accused of different crimes. 
One of the most singular is the wai haruru, shaking 
water. A large calabash or wooden dish of water is 
placed in the midst of a circle, on one side of which the 
accused party is seated. A prayer is offered by the 
priest; and the suspected individuals are required, one 
