When a Chief is present in any Company the Men strip their Bodys to the Waist not suffering any Covering on their Head or Shoulders in His Presence — and all the Weomen present uncover their Shoulders tucking their Cloth under their armpits, to Cover their Breasts in token of obedience and respect, to his presence; the Men are not always particular in this point except Upon the Chiefs Heredetary land or that of His adopted friend, where any neglect would be deemd an Insult and punishd accordingly — but in presence of the King the Chiefs themselves must strip — Nor do they stop to see him first if they Have Notice of His approach either by land or in a Canoe, Nor must any person pass his land by walking over it or Sailing by it without paying the Compliment.

If a Chief takes a liking to any thing in the Posession of any Person and they don’t like to part with it immediately, he then Curses it, or Calls it by his own name or any of his relations and it is sanctified so far that the Owner cannot again make use of it upon Pain of Death or Forfeiture of their land tho they may keep it if they will, which however is seldom the Case — nor Is the Chief often obliged to make use of this alternative, as they make it their Study to anticipate the Wishes of their Chiefs, and leave them nothing to ask for, giving them whatever he seems inclined to have and when the Chiefs do ask for any thing it is Given freely at the first word. If a Chief should enter or even toutch the House of any Female of a lower Class, it is rendered sacred by his presence and She Can never eat in it any more (but any man may) and she must provide herself with a new house and new furniture — for this reason if the Chief should be caught in the rain, he must not take shelter till he comes to a mans house, or one of His own (of which He has several for that and such like purposes) tho He should be a mile from one, and for this reason also No woman except of equal rank, can eat on board a Ship after the Chief has been on board, under pain of

Indigenous Histories