116 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
those possessing property frequently called toge- 
ther. the members of the family, or confidential 
friends, and to them gave directions for the dis- 
posal of their effects after their decease. This was 
considered a sacred charge, and was usually exe- 
cuted with fidelity. 
Every portion of land had its respective owner ; 
and even the distinct trees on the land had some- 
times different proprietors, and a tree, and the land 
on which it grew, different owners. The divisions 
of land were accurately marked by a natural boun-' 
dary, as a ridge of mountains, or the course of a 
river, or by artificial means; and frequently a 
carved image, or til, denoted the extent of their 
different possessions. Whether these tiis were 
designed to intimate that the spirits they repre- 
sented guarded the borders of their property, or 
were used as ornaments, I could not learn, but 
the removal of the ancient land-marks was regarded 
as a heinous offence. 
The produce which the king received from his 
hereditary estates being seldom sufficient for the 
maintenance of his household, the deficiency was 
supplied from the different districts of the islands. 
The frequency, however, with which the inferior 
chiefs were required to bring provisions, was 
neither fixed nor regular, but was governed by the 
number of the districts, or the necessities of the 
king’s steward. Still there was a sort of tacit 
agreement between the king and chiefs, as to the 
times when they should furnish his provision ; and 
the usage among them, in this respect, was gene- 
rally understood. 
The provision was ready dressed, though occa- 
sionally the vegetables and roots were brought 
uncooked, and the pigs led alive to the king’s ser- 
