he
risks his life every year; but to no effect. His answer always is, that
he is as able to catch a spear, as any one on the island is to throw it
at him. During the Macahity, all punishments are remitted throughout the
country; and no person can leave the place in which he commences these
holidays, let the affair requiring his absence be ever so
important."[120] The ceremony of throwing a spear at the king during the
festival of Macahity has been described also by the Scotch sailor
Archibald Campbell, who may have witnessed it. He says: "The king
remains in the _morai_ for the whole period; before entering it, a
singular ceremony takes place. He is obliged to stand till three spears
are darted at him: he must catch the first with his hand, and with it
ward off the other two. This is not a mere formality. The spear is
thrown with the utmost force; and should the king lose his life, there
is no help for it."[121] This curious rite may perhaps have been a relic
of an old custom which obliged the king to submit once a year to the
ordeal of battle, in order to prove his fitness for a renewed tenure of
office, death being the penalty of defeat and the kingdom the reward of
victory in the combat.[122] During the continuance of the festival the
priests were employed in collecting the taxes, which were paid by the
chiefs in proportion to the extent of their territories; these taxes
consisted of mats, feathers, and the produce of the country. The people
celebrated the festival by dancing, wrestling, and other
amusements.[123] The victor in the boxing matches and martial evolutions
was crowned and treated as king of the festival, which was held in
honour of the god Rono.[124]

[119] L. de Freycinet, _Voyage autour du Monde, Historique_, ii.
595. Compare U. Lisiansky, _Voyage round the World_, p. 118.
According to the latter writer, there were no taboos (festivals)
in the eleventh month.

[120] U. Lisiansky, _Voyage round the World_, pp. 118 _sq._ From
A. Campbell, _Voyage round the World_, p. 178, we learn that the
festival fell in November, and from a brief native notice we may
gather that the New Year celebration was the festival of
Macahity. See J. Remy, _Histoire de l'Archipel Havaiien_, pp.
167, 169, "_a la celebration de la nouvelle annee, les citoyens,
les chefs, les femmes, les enfants se livraient a des boxes
furieuses, et plusieurs recevaient dans ces jeux des blessures