Men whose terror of such punishment as this, and whose vivid faith in the imminence thereof, were strong enough to kill them were much more, or less, than secularists.
The well-known principle that there is no potent, respected, and lasting institution, however strange, but has its roots in practical usefulness, is amply verified in the case of _tapu_.

By it authority was ensured, dignity hedged about with respect, and property and public health protected.

Any person, place or thing laid under _tapu_ might not be touched, and sometimes not even approached.

A betrothed maiden defended by _tapu_ was as sacred as a vestal virgin of Rome; a shrine became a Holy Place; the head of a chief something which it was sacrilege to lay hands on.

The back of a man of noble birth could not be degraded by bearing burdens--an awkward prohibition in moments when no slave or woman happened to be in attendance on these lordly beings.
Anything cooked for a chief was forbidden food to an inferior.