T h e boundaries o f the feveral difiridts, into which Ota-
heite is divided, are, generally, either rivulets, or low hills ,
which, in many places, ju t out into the fea. But the fub-
divifions into particular property, are marked by large ftones,
w h ich have remained from one generation to another. T he
removal o f any o f thefe gives rife to quarrels, w hich are decided
by a rm s ; e'ach party b rin gin g his friends into the
field. But i f any one complain to the Eree de hoi, he terminates
the difference amicably. T h is is an offence, however,
not common ; and long cuflom feems to fecure property
here as effectually, as the moil fevere laws do in other
countries- In conformity alfo to ancient practice eftabliihed
amongil them, crimes o f a lefs general nature are left to be
puniihed by the fufferer, without referrin g them to a fupe-
rior. In this cafe, they feem to think, that the injured per-
fon w ill ju d g e as equitably as thofe who are totally unconcerned
; and as lon g cuftom has allotted certain puniffi-
ments for crimes o f different forts, he is allowed to in flift
them, without being amenable to any other perfon. T h u s ,
i f any one be caught Healing, w h ich is commonly done in-
the night, the proprietor o f the goods may put the th ie f in-
flan tly to d e a th ; and i f any one fliould inquire o f him'
after the deceafed, it is fufficrent to acquit him, i f he o n ly
inform them o f the provocation he had to k ill him. But
fo fevere a punifhment is feldom inflifted, unlefs the articles,
that are ilolen be reckoned ve ry va luable;, fuch as breaft-
plates, and plaited hair. I f only cloth, or even hogs be.
ilolen, and the th ie f efcape, upon his being afterward dif-
covered, i f he promife to return the fame number o f pieces',
o f cloth, or o f hogs, no farther puniihment is inflicted.
Sometimes, after keeping,out o f the w ay for a few days, he.
is forgiven, or, at moil, gets a flight beating. I f a perfon
, k i l l
k ill another in a quarrel, the friends o f the deceafed af- De[ ^ r>
femble, and eng ag e the furvivor and his adherents. I f _— —<
they co n q u e r/ th e y take poffeflion o f the houfe, lands, and
goods o f the other p ar ty; but i f conquered, the revcrfe
takes place. I f a Manahoone k ill the 'Toutou, or Have o f a -
Chief, the latter fends people to take poffeflion o f the lands
and houfe o f the former, who flies either to fome other
part o f the ifland, or to fome o f the neighbouring, iflands.
A fte r fome months he returns, and finding his flock o f
hogs much increafed, he offers a large prefent o f thefe, with
fome red feathers, and other valuable articles, to the Toutou's
mailer, w ho generally accepts the compenfation, and permits
him to repoffefs his houfe and lands. This practice is •
the he ight o f venality and injuftice; and the flayer o f the
Have feems to be under no farther neceflity o f abfconding,
than to impofe upon the lower clafs o f people who are the
fufferers. For it does not appear, that the C h ief has the le a i l .
power to puniih this Manahoone; but the whole management
marks a colliifion between him and his fuperior, to g ra tify
the revenge o f 'th e former, and the avarice o f the latter.-
Ihdeed, we need not wonder that the k illin g o f a m a n
ihould be confi'dered as fo venial an offence, amongil a people
who do not confider it as any crime at all, to m u rd e r: their
own children. When, talk ing to them about fuch inilances ?
o f ‘unnatural!- cruelty, and a iking, whether the Chiefs or-
principal people were not angry, and did not puniih them? »
I'wa s told, that the C h ie f neither could nor would interfere I
in fuch c a fe s ; and that every one had a right to do withh
his own child w h a t he pleafed.
T h o u gh the produdtions, the people, and the cufloms-
and manners o f all the iflands in the neighbourhood, may, .
in general, be reckoned the fam e .a s at Otaheite, there are .-
a few