406 
A VOYAGE TO 
W the general outline. A fubordination is eftablifhed among 
> — - i them, that refembles the feudal fyftem of our progenitors 
in Europe. But of its fubdivifions, of the conftituent parts, 
and in what manner they are connected, fo as to form a 
body politic, I confefs myfelf totally ignorant. Some of 
them told us, that the power of the king is unlimited, and 
that the life and property of the fubjedt is at his difpofal. 
But the few circumftances that fell under our obfervation, 
rather contradidted than confirmed the idea of a defpotic 
government. Mareewagee, old Toobou, and Feenou, adfed 
each like petty fovereigns, and frequently thwarted the mea- 
fures of the king; of which he often complained. Neither 
was his court more fplendid than thofe of the two firft, who 
are the moft powerful Chiefs in the iflands; and, next to 
them, Feenou, Mareewagee’s foil, feemed to Band higheft 
in authority. But, however independent on the defpotic 
power of the king the great men may be, we faw inftances 
enough to prove, that the lower order of people have no 
property, nor fafety for their perfons, but at the will of the 
Chiefs to whom they refpedtively belong. 
Tongataboo is divided into many diftridts; of above thirty 
of which we learned the names. Each of thefe has its par¬ 
ticular Chief, who decides differences, and diflributes juft ice 
within his own diftridt. But we could not form any fatis- 
fadtory judgment about the extent of their power in gene¬ 
ral, or their mode of proportioning punifhments to crimes. 
Moft of thefe Chiefs have poffeftions in other iflands, from 
whence they draw fupplies. At leaft, we know this is fo 
with refpedl to the king, who, at certain eftablifhed times, 
receives the produdt of his diftant domains at Tongataboo ; 
which is not only the principal place of his refidence, but, 
feemingly, of all the people of confequence amongft thefe 
3 ifles. 
