but as receptacles for different claffes ; the firfl, for their
Chiefs and principal people, the other for thofe of inferior
rank, for they do not fuppofe that their actions, here in the
leaf! influence their future ftate, or indeed that they come
under the cognizance of their deities at all. Their religion,
therefore, i f it has no influence upon their morals, is at leaf!
difinterefted; and their expreiflons of adoration and reverence,
whether by words or a&ions, arife only from a
humble fenfe of their own inferiority, and the ineffable excellence
of divine perfection.
The character of the priefl or Tahowa, is hereditary: the
clafs is numerous, and confifts of all ranks of people j the
chief, however, is generally the younger brother of a good
family, and is refpeCted in a degree next to their kings. Of
the little knowlege -that is poffeffed in this country, the
priefts have the greateft fhare.; but it confifts principally in
an acquaintance with the names and ranks of the different
Eatuas or fubordinate divinities, and the opinions concerning
the origin of things, which have been traditionally preferved
among the order in detached fentences, of which fome will
repeat an incredible number, though but very few of the
words that are ufed in their common dialed occur in them.
The priefts, however, are fuperior to the reft of the people
in the knowlege of navigation and aftronomy, and indeed
the name Tahowa fignifies nothing more than a man of
knowlege. As there are priefts of every clafs, they officiate
only among that clafs to which they belong: the prieft of
the inferior clafs is never called upon by thofe of fuperior
rank, nor w ill the prieft of the fuperior rank officiate for any
of the inferior clafs.
Marriage in this ifland, as appeared to us, is nothing more
than an agreement between the man and woman, with
which
R O U N D T H E WO R L D . 24.1.
which the prieft has no concern. Where it is contraded it >769'
appears to be pretty well kept, though fometimes the parties
feparate by mutual confent, and in that cafe a divorce takes
place with as little trouble as the marriage.
But though the priefthood has laid the people under no
tax for a nuptial benedidion, there are two operations which
it has appropriated, and from which it derives confiderable
advantages. One is tattowing, and the other circumcifion,
though neither of them have any connexion with religion.
The tattowing has been defcribed already. Circumcifion
has been adopted merely from motives of cleanlinefs; it
cannot indeed properly be called circumcifion, becaufe the
prepuce is not-mutilated by a circular wound, but only flit
through the upper part to prevent its contrading over, the
glans. As neither of thefe can be performed by any but a
prieft, and as to be without either is the greateft difgrace,
they may be confidered as a claim,to furplice fees like our
marriages and chriftenings, which are cheerfully and liberally
paid,, not according to any fettled.ftipend, but the.rank
and abilities of the parties or their friends.
; The Morai,. as has already been obferved, is at once a.
burying ground and a place of worfhip, and in this particular
our churches too much refemble it.. The Indian, however,
approaches his Morai with a reverence and humility
that difgraces the chriftian, not becaufe he holds any thing
facred that is there, but becaufe he there worfhips an invi-
fible divinity, for whom, though he neither hopes for reward,
nor fears, punifhment, at his hand, he always exprefies the
profoundeft homage and molt humble adoration. I have already
given a very particular tfefcription both of the Morais
and the altars that are placed near them. When an Indian is
6 about.