The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-08-27

ID E4nEllsl IiI-cfOIlarle-. unlcr CHf- ltIfOhdBc
of the London Missionary Society, have pub
r lished several most interesting and instructive
books relating 70 the Islands of tie = South
Seas The earliest in the series was a MARIA
tive of the voyage Of the Duff. This was the
name Of the vessel taking the first Missiona-
ries to Tahiti. near the close of the last century.
The next work was the PoiyHesan Researches,
in 4 vols, by the Rev. W. Ellis. who labored at
Tahiti and Honolulu, but who is now spending
u vigorous old Sge among the inhabitants of
Madagascar. Subsequently followed the fasci-
mating volume ny Williams, entitled Missionary
Enterprises. Respecting this work, the Arch
bishop of Canterbury remarked, that : he knew
not whether he would not willingly put away
~ least half the foIios which he possessed, rather
than part with one volume which had recently
been Published by the Missionary Williams
Other works have since followed. including those
of TIE Rev. William Gill. on Eastern and West
ern Polynesia. OF Gems from the Coral Islands,
and an interesting work upon the Feejee Islands,
By the Methodist Missionaries.
i new book has made its appearance in Eng
land, and IL single copy has reached the Islands.
The title OF this work appears at the head of
this article. IL is a work of 548 pages, divided
into zxxv chapters, and is profusely illustrated
WI iJIty euGIdHtbSs. 1HIS u IL carefully pre-
pared publication by one who has been a labori-
ous Missionary at the Samoan or Navigaturs'
Islands. 1t relates principally to those islands,
after giving an account of the island OF Tanna.
one of the NeweHebride Group, where the writer
was FIRST stationed.
Government and Laws.
A hurried glance, from u European stand
point, Causes many passing visitors u conclude
fb.r fk.S ru..p IA, a. nfIinD ~ ~ rba
shape Of government or laws. In sailing along
the coast of any island of the group, you can
hardly discern anything but one uninterrupted
mass of bush and vegetation from the beach To
the top of the mountains but, on landing, and
infinitely inspecting place alter place, you find
villages, plantations, roads, and boundary walls,
In all directions along the coast. lie Is the same
with their political aspect. 1t is not until you
have landed, lived among the people. and for
years closely Inspected their movements, that you
can form a correct opinion of the exact state of
affairs. To any one acquainted with the abnrig-
ines OF various parts of the world. anc especially
those of the PapuaD groups IN Western POlyne-
sia, the simple fact that the Samoans have but
one dialect, and free intercourse with each other
all over the group, II proof positive that there
must have existed there, even in heathenisn,
some system of government.
In the DAYS of heathenism, a good deal of order
was maintIined by the union of two things, viz,
ciUiI P0rrer md super SfitiOuS fear.
/. rs to the first of these, their government
had. and ssll has, more of the patriarchal and
democratic In it, than Of the monarchicai. Take
. village, containing Il population, say, of three
To five hundred, and there will probably be
found there from ten To twenty titled heads of
families, and one of the higher rank. called
chiefs. The titles Of the heads of families are
not hereditary. The son may succeed TO the
title which his father had, bur it may be given
IL an uncle, or a cousin. and sometimes the son
Is passed over, and the title given, by common
consent, to a perfect stranger, merely for the
sake of drawing him III. To increase the numer-
ical strength Of the family. What | now call Il
family Is IA combined group Of sons, daughters,
uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, etc, and may
number fifty individuals. They have one large
house, as a Common rendezvous, and for the re-
ceptiun Of visitors, and four OF FIVE other houses,
all near each other.
The chiefs on the other hand, 0re Il more
select class, whose pedigree is traced most care
fully TO the ancient head of some particular clan.
One is chosen To bear the title, but there may be
twenty other individuals. who trace Bheir origin
TO the same stock, call themselves chiefs to. and
any of whom may succeed TO the title on the
death of the one who bears it. y chief, before
he dies. NAV name some one - succeed him, but
the final decision rests with the heads of families,
Is 10 which of the members Of the chief family
shall have the title, and be regarded as the viii
laga chief. In some cases, the greater part Of a
village il composed of parties who rank as chiefs,
but, IL a general rule, it consists of certain fami-
lies of the more common order, which we have
just mentioned, and some titled chief, 10 whom
the village looks up as their political head and
protector. Ii Is usual, in the cuuTtasIes of COM
mon conversation. for all II call each other
chiefs. IL yuu listen TO the talk of little boys
even. YOU will hear them addressing each other
as chief this, that and the other thing. Hence,
L have heard II stranger remark, that the difficult
~ in Samoa, Is. not To- find who IS a chief, but
To find nut who Is L common man.
As the chief can call To his aid. i'm any emer-
gency. other chiefs co nected with The same an
cienr stock from which me has sprung. and rs he
looks upon the entire village rs his children, and
feels bound TED avenge their wrongs, it Is thought
essential TO have some such character in every
settlement. If anything in the Clubbing way is
II be done, mo- one but the chief, or his brother,
OF IN, son, dare do il. With few exceptions. he
moves about. and shares in everyday employ
ments, just like u common man. tie goes out
with che fishing party, works in his plantation,
helps ut hOuse-bLiidInS, and lends Il hand at the
native oven. There are still, however. although
not at first sight to a European eye, well-detned
marks of his craftsmanship. If you listen - the
conversation of the people, or attend 4 meeting
of the heads of families for any village business,
You hear that he IS addressed with such fOrmali-
ties Us might be translated into our English
Earl, Duke, Prince, or King So-and-so and.
instead of the pleibian you, it is your HIghness,
your Grace, your Lordship. or your Majesty
When the ava-bowI Is filed, and the cup of
friendship sent round. the first cup IS handed TO
him. The turtle, too, the best joint, and any
thing choice, is sure to be laid before the chief.
Then, again, If he wishes tn marry. the heads OF
families vie with each other in supplying him
with all that Is necessary to provide cor the feast
ing, and other things connected with the cere-
monies. He. on the other hand. has to give
them ample compensation for all this, by distri-