SANDWICH ISLANDS. 
13 
stition which renders sacred the remains of those we have 
loved in life. At the discovery, some of these Islanders de¬ 
posited their dead in caverns, others, and indeed the greater 
part of those of rank, dismembered the body as if in sacrifice, 
consumed the flesh by fire, or sometimes allowed the first 
process of putrefaction to take place under a bed of leaves, 
and then separated the flesh from the bones with wooden 
saws and scrupulously burned it, and, in all cases, carefully 
collected the bones, wrapped them in cloth, and deposited 
them in some safe and sacred place. It is not uncommon 
for a friend always to carry with him the relics of his de¬ 
ceased friend, and frequently the bones of a favourite chief 
were distributed among various relations and allies, whose 
veneration for them approached idolatry. Christian burial 
has been introduced by the missionaries, and has already, 
among the higher chiefs, superseded the ancient sepulchral 
rites, which were always performed secretly. 
Justice was administered in a summary manner by the 
chiefs in person. The king might always be approached, 
and the minor chiefs were his ministers to see his decrees 
executed. A poor woman had to complain to Tamehameha 
that a rich neighbour had kept the water of the public water¬ 
courses flowing in his own grounds beyond the regular time 
allotted to him, and that therefore her fields had been in- 
