NATIONAL COUNCILS. 117 
vants. The pigs, after being presented to the 
king, were sometimes taken back by the farmer, 
and fed till required for use. Cloth for the dress 
of the king’s servants, houses for his abode, and 
canoes, not only for himself, but also for those of 
his household, were furnished by the inhabitants of 
the islands. 
Although the king’s will was the supreme law, 
and the government in some respects despotic, it 
approximated more to a mixed administration, a 
union of monarchy and aristocracy. The king had 
usually one confidential chief near his person, who 
was his adviser in every affair of importance, and 
was, in fact, his prime minister. Frequently there 
were two or three who possessed the confidence, 
and aided the counsels, of the king. These mi- 
nisters were not responsible to any one for the 
advice they gave. So great, however, was the 
influence of the raatiras, that a measure of any 
importance, such as the declaration of war, or the 
fitting out a fleet, was seldom undertaken without 
their being first consulted. This was effected by 
the friends of the king going among them, and pro- 
posing the affair in contemplation, or by convening 
a public council for its consideration. 
Their public measures were not distinguished by 
promptness or decision, excepting when they 
wreaked vengeance upon the poor and helpless 
victims of their displeasure. After a meeting of 
the chiefs had been summoned, it was a long time 
before all came together, and their meetings were 
often interrupted by adjournments. 
Their councils were usually held in the open 
air, where the chiefs and others formed a circle, 
in which the orators of the different parties took 
their stations opposite to each other. These 
