a n a c c o u n t o f
£q Frequently been ,mentioned, in the foregoing narrative*
where the King fir# Rated the bufinefs upon which he had-
afiembled them, and fubmitted it to theifc raanfideration j
each Rupack prefent delivered his opinion, but without
rifing from Ms feat: when the matter before them was fettled,
the King, handing up, put an end to the. council.^—
After which they often entered into familiar ednverfa|iohf
and fometimes chatted together for an hour after their bufinefs
was difpatched.
When any meflage was brought to the King, whether in
council or elfewhere, if it came by one of the common
people, it was delivered at fome difiance, in a low Voices to
one of the inferior Rupacks; who, bending in an humble
.manner, at the King’s fide, delivered the meflage in a low
tone of voice, with his face turned afide*—His command's
appeared to be abfolute j though he a£ted in no important
bufinefs without the advice of his Chiefs. In council there.
Was a particular Hone on which the King fat; the other
Rupacks did not always take the fame place, feating them-*
felvfes fometimes on his right-hand and fometimes on his
left.
Every day in the afternoon the King, whether he Was at
Pelew, or with the Rngiijb at Oroolong, Went to fit int.
public, for thepurpofe of hearing any requefts, or of ad-
jufting any difference or dispute which might have.arifen
among his fubje&s.
As
T H E P E ' l 1 W IS R A I D 'S . 293
Àsthdfé pêdplë had* but littl®'-' ptbpdrt-yîfô ■ éreâte diffen-
fioftyaiid nô ïàwydfS feôfomënt!ani«ofity,-it k-pMôbhfelé^Mt
ffeê': W?rJ0fig->wêFe p e t*
fèétly üftdêFltOod, and ' nbf dft’ën viéiatêd?ç’ whenever they*
Wefë* thè ofifending-pafty FëbëiVëd thé Kin^;terén#frd,--vÆifiéh
etpôïed theto- to gë&ètal ïh&tnë ; a ferUÉStfe* W uticorrupted'
ïîiihdiÿ fâr mort fëveTe than any pénal* ïn®itution.-^Thëÿ
could not recur to the dubious eohftruâîom of fi-te huh»
dred ÊtW^vagu'ely '"c&iïcëi'ôed, and worîe unde#
th&ai/kuriiy of which, in civilized
lain fob Often takes ihelter, and the injured fit down mote op-
pféffed.-*—Iîappy for thérOyiMÿ v^fe igfiOfhntfof thatfeif{«i-:P
try &fid refinement Which‘taft hFgueViéê' into virtue Ï nor
Wfft àcq&àintedWith the 'Laudanum of Ih#®^ Whofe |3Foa
pgity will OCcàSonâly benumb and lay dorfnaïit thé pWër
of common uhderftaûdings ï-^Ti^y had ndheéië^tibft that
there txified polilhed nations, where it was infinitely more
e£pêufive to fut far jUfiice than to fifonh® to fraud
preffittii^nations where meiPs aaiks ohïy» -not më#l
were credited ! and where there were found* wfèmhés Who
dated attack the properties and lives of thèir feïlôw^cftièettef
by 'affertiorts of faljbood, whilft they fblemnly and irttpioully
invoked the Gob OF HtAYEN to àttëfi: their irUtbf^l&tbthe
children of Nature, and fecluded from the ebfrihbtion of the
world, her laws were their general guide.-—Their rtaï Wants
were few, and they faw nothing to excite àrîifitial tines.—
Every