LAND TENURE.
As a rule, the chiefs were the only proprietors of the soil. They were supposed to own not only the soil and all that grew upon it, not only the fish of the sea, but also the time and labor of their people.
The accepted theory was that all the lands belonged to the king, of whom they were held by the high chiefs in fief; i. e., on condition of rendering him tribute and military service. Each of these district chieftains divided up his territory among an inferior order of petty chiefs, who owed to him the same service and obedience that he owed to the king.
In this way the land was subdivided again and again, while at the bottom of the scale were the miserable serfs who tilled the soil. These last were simply tenants at will, liable to be dispossessed
of their little holdings at any time, or to be stripped of their personal property at the requisition of the chief.
WAR.
Wars were frequent and cruel. There were numerous wars to settle the succession to the sovereignty of an Island, as well as contests between the head chiefs of the principal Islands. For example, the chiefs of Oahu often contended with those of Maui for the possession of Molokai, and there were frequent wars between the chiefs of Hawaii and those of Maui for the district of Hana.
Their weapons consisted of long spears, pololu; javelins, ihe; daggers, pahoa, and clubs made of hard wood. They never used the bow in war, but slings made of cocoanut
fiber or human hair were extensively employed. They used no shields, but became wonderfully expert in catching or parrying spears thrown at them.
Sometimes they engaged in sea fights, with large fleets of canoes on each side. In general no quarter was given to the vanquished, but there were certain sanctuaries called puuhonuas, which afforded an inviolable refuge in time of war. Cannibalism was regarded by them with horror and detestation.