r own country, with which this everlasting abode is supposed to
abound. As to the souls of the lower sort of people, they undergo a sort
of transmigration; or, as they say, are eat by a bird called _loata_,
which walks upon their graves for that purpose.

I think I may venture to assert, that they do not worship any thing that
is the work of their own hands or any visible part of the creation. They
do not make offerings of hogs, dogs, and fruit, as at Otaheite, unless
it be emblematically; for their _morais_ were perfectly free from every
thing of the kind. But that they offer real human sacrifices, is, with
me, beyond a doubt. Their _morais_ or _fiatookas_, (for they are called
by both names, but mostly by the latter), are, as at Otaheite, and many
other parts of the world, burying-grounds, and places of worship; though
some of them seemed to be only appropriated to the first purpose; but
these were small, and, in every other respect, inferior to the others.

Of the nature of their government, we know no more than the general
outline. A subordination is established among them, that resembles the
feudal system of our progenitors in Europe. But of its subdivisions, of
the constituent parts, and in what manner they are connected, so as to
form a body politic, I confess myself totally ignorant. Some of them
told us, that the power of the king is unlimited, and that the life and
property of the subject is at his disposal. But the few circumstances
that fell under our observation, rather contradicted than confirmed the
idea of a despotic government. Mareewagee, old Toobou, and Feenou, acted
each like petty sovereigns, and frequently thwarted the measures of the
king, of which he often complained. Neither was his court more splendid
than those of the two first, who are the most powerful chiefs in the
islands; and, next to them, Feenou, Mareewagee's son, seemed to stand
highest in authority. But, however independent on the despotic power of
the king the great men may be, we saw instances enough to prove, that
the lower order of people have no property, nor safety for their
persons, but at the will of the chiefs to whom they respectively belong.

Tongataboo is divided into many districts; of above thirty of which we
learned the names. Each of these has its particular chief, who decides
differences, and distributes justice within his own district. But we
could not form any satisfactory judgment about the extent of their power
i