416 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES* 
wood. The rent was originally paid in canoes* 
native cloth, mats, fishing-nets, hogs, dogs, and 
the produce of the soil, for the use of the king, 
and the numerous train of favourite chiefs and 
dependants by which he was surrounded, and who 
were daily fed from the provisions of his house. 
For this tax the governor is responsible, and it 
is his business to see it conveyed to the king, or 
disposed of according to his order. A second tax 
is laid on the districts by the governor, for him¬ 
self. The inhabitants of those portions of the 
island, however, which belong, to other chiefs, 
although they furnish their share towards the 
king’s revenue, are not called upon to support 
the governor of the island, but are expected to 
send a part of the produce of the land to their 
own chiefs. After this has been paid, additional 
requisitions are made upon the poor people cul¬ 
tivating the land, by the petty chiefs of the dis¬ 
tricts and villages; these, however, are but 
trifling. 
There is no standing rule for the amount of 
rents or taxes, but they are regulated entirely by 
the caprice or necessities of their rulers. Some¬ 
times the poor people take a piece of land, on 
condition of cultivating a given portion for the 
chief, and the remainder for themselves, making a 
fresh agreement after every crop. 
In addition to the above demands, the common 
people are in general obliged to labour, if required, 
part of two days out of seven, in cultivating farms, 
building houses, &c. for their landlord. 
A time is usually appointed for receiving the 
rent, when the people repair to the governor’s with 
what they have to pay. If the required amount is 
furnished, they return, and, as they express it, 
