We Are Sure, However, That It Is Of
The Feudal Kind; And If We May Judge From What We Have Seen, It Has
Sufficient Stability, And Is By No Means Badly Constructed.
The Eowas and Whannos always eat with the king; indeed I do
not know if any one is excluded from this privilege but the
Toutous.
For as to the women, they are out of the question, as they
never eat with the men, let their rank be ever so much elevated.
Notwithstanding this kind of kingly establishment, there was very little
about Otoo's person or court by which a stranger could distinguish the king
from the subject. I seldom saw him dressed in any thing but a common piece
of cloth wrapped round his loins; so that he seemed to avoid all
unnecessary pomp, and even to demean himself more than any other of the
Earees. I have seen him work at a paddle, in coming to and going
from the ship, in common with the other paddlers; and even when some of his
Toutous sat looking on. All have free access to him, and speak to
him wherever they see him, without the least ceremony; such is the easy
freedom which every individual of this happy isle enjoys. I have observed
that the chiefs of these isles are more beloved by the bulk of the people,
than feared. May we not from hence conclude, that the government is mild
and equitable?
We have mentioned that Waheatoua or Tiarabou is related to Otoo.
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