Note 260 — Chapter II · GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SLAVERY.

The Tongans, according to Meinicke, had slaves, partly prisoners of war, partly condemned criminals260. Gerland, referring to a missionary report, speaks of slaves, tamaiveiki261. But in his very minute description of Tongan government and social classes262 he gives no more particulars about these slaves; and Mariner who, according to Gerland, is very reliable263, makes no mention of slavery. Mariner enumerates five social classes; the lowest class were the tooas, the bulk of the people, consisting of a. a few warriors, b. professed cooks in the service of the chiefs, c. those who tilled the soil and had no other occupation264. Mariner only makes mention of captive women, so it is probable that no men were taken prisoners in their wars265. West states that there was a monarchical despotism, supported by an hereditary aristocracy. The people were divided into several, strictly separated, classes. The lowest class where the tuas, common people, subdivided into different trades: carpenters, fishermen, etc. The feudal principle, that the whole country belonged exclusively to the king, made the people slaves266. Such “slavery” of a whole people is not, however, slavery in the true sense of the word. Of slavery proper West makes as little mention as Mariner. We may, therefore, safely suppose that Meinicke and Gerland have been mistaken, and that slavery did not exist here.