POLYGAMY. ' » 273 
was according to the rank or means of the families 
thus united. 
Such were the marriage ceremonies formerly 
observed among the inhabitants of the South Sea 
Islands. They exhibited much that was curious and 
affecting, especially in the blood of their parents* 
and the skulls of their ancestors, presented before 
the parties. The one, perhaps, as the emblem of 
their union, and the other as an intimation that 
the inhabitants of the world of spirits were wit¬ 
nesses of the agreement. Considering these, and 
other significant usages, it is surprising how a 
people, so uncivilized and rude as in many 
respects they certainly were, should ever have 
instituted observances so singular and impressive, 
in connexion with the marriage contract. 
Notwithstanding all this ceremony and form in 
entering into the engagement, the marriage tie 
was probably one of the weakest and most brittle 
that existed among them; neither party felt them¬ 
selves bound to abide by it any longer than it suited 
their inclinations and their convenience. The 
slightest cause was often sufficient to occasion 
or to justify their separation, though among the 
higher classes the relation was nominally continued 
long after it had actually ceased. 
Polygamy was practised more extensively by 
the Tahitians than by the inhabitants of the Sand¬ 
wich Islands, and probably prevailed to as great 
an extent among them as among any of the Poly¬ 
nesian tribes. Many of the raatiras, or inferior 
chiefs, had two or three wives, who appeared to 
receive an equal degree of respect and support. 
With the higher chiefs, however, it was different; 
although they might, like Hamanemane, keep a 
number of females, it was rather a system of con- 
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