Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/37

 ORIGIN AND POLITY. 17

in the open air four nights, before being allowed to go to their inn ; all which time they have to move in a creeping posture, and at intervals to say the tama with a trembling voice, in imitation of the shivering rat. After four days, they may go about and wear better dresses, but must still walk half doubled, with their hands on their breasts. When a Mbau man meets one of them, he says, "Vekaveka, sa, sa (sere) ko Qurai?" " Ho ! ho ! is Ng-gurai set at liberty?" to which the other replies, "Io, vaaca. sa sa o Qyrai," "Yes, respectfully, Ng-gurai is allowed liberty."

Parties from other places are spared these degrading formalities, which the Somosomans are also partially evading by the aid of the Ton- gans and the boats of the white men.

The character of the rule exercised by the chief powers mentioned above is purely despotic. The will of the King, is, in most cases, law, and hence the nature of the government varies according to his personal character. The people have no voice in the state ; nevertheless, the utmost respect is paid to ancient divisions of landed property, of family rank, and official rights. " There exists," says Captam Erskine, " a carefully-defined and (by the Fijians themselves) well understood system of polity, which dictates the position the different districts hold with re- spect to each other, as well as the degree of submission which each de- pendent owes to his principal." Men of rank and official importance are generally about the person of the Sovereign forming his council, and serving to check the exercise of his power. When these persons meet to consult on any grave subject, few speak; for few are qualified. In the councils, birth and rank by themselves are unable to command in- fluence, but a man is commended according to his wisdom. A crude suggestion or unsound argument from a Chief of importance would at once be ridiculed, to his confusion. Assemblies of this kind are often jnarked by a respectable amount of diplomatic skill. In deliberations of great consequence, secrecy is aimed at, but not easily secured, the houses of the people being too open to insure privacy.