420 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES® 
the stipulated rent, his conduct would be contrary 
to their opinions of right; and if the man com¬ 
plained to the governor or the king, and no other 
charge was brought against him, he would most 
likely be reinstated. The irrigation of their plan¬ 
tations is of great importance in most parts, and 
there is a law that the water shall be conducted 
over every plantation twice a week in general, and 
once a week during the dry season. 
On the death of a chief, his lands revert to the 
king or the governor of the island. He may no¬ 
minate his son, his wife, or any other person, to 
succeed to his districts, &c. but the appointment 
must be confirmed by the king or governor, before 
the individual can take possession. 
This regulation, next to the tabu, is the most 
effectual mode of preserving the authority and in¬ 
fluence of the king and chiefs. 
In eases of assault or murder, except when 
committed by their own chief, the family and 
friends of the injured party are, by common con¬ 
sent, justified in retaliating. When they are too 
weak to attack the offender, they seek the aid of 
their neighbours, appeal to the chief of the district, 
or the king, who seldom inflicts a heavier punish¬ 
ment than banishment, even for murder, which, 
however, is a crime very rarely committed by the 
natives. 
Theft among themselves is severely punished. 
Formerly, when a garden or house had been 
robbed, and the robbers were discovered, those 
whose goods had been stolen repaired to the house 
or plantation of the offenders, and Jiao , seized, 
whatever they could find. This regulation was so 
well established, that though the guilty party should 
be the strongest, they would not dare to resist the 
