*792- . the plantations; foon arrived at the houfe o f a chief, where Whytooa
^ i having provided an excellent repaft they were fumptuoufly regaled.
In the evening, as they returned to our friends houfe, they obferved
many fires were burning at Oparre, as if a grand entertainment was preparing
; they however fared as ufual; and after fupper, on requefting:
their worthy hoft would join in a glafs o f grog, to the health of friends
in Britarne, he, though extremely fond of the liquor, very politely declined
the invitation; faying, there was but little for themfelves, and he
would therefore drink “ Britarne” in a bowl of Qtaheitean ava, which
was- immediately- prepared.
Before break of day, Mowree acquainted them, that, as. religious reft
ritlions were laid on all the canoes in that part of the ifland, his could
not be launched; he was infbrmed. this would not be any inconvenience,
as-it waS the intention of the party to -return by land and requelled, that
Whytooa would prepare them an early breakfall. This, Whytooa hoped,
they would excufe, as fires were interdifted,;.and cooking could not be
fuffered at his houfe; but that he would endeavour to provide, them with-
feme refrelhment on their-journeys, when out of the dillriCi of Oparre.
Accompanied'by their1 v/orthy . hoft and hoftefs, they how fet forth, on
their return, highly impreffed with the attentive, kindnefs- and hofpitality
they1 had received.
On reaching-the- rivulet, they ‘requefted to be fhewn the moral to
which tie-remains o f M'akoiii hid been.carriedrkhe preceding day. The.
road was pointed out, but having'advanced a. little way a meflage, -was;
delivdredj requeili'ng they-would return. On. explaining the pr-omife,
made by P(murrey, much hefitation enfued ; after which Whytooa directed'
one of the- natives only to. accompany them, giving, him at the
fame1 time'-Very particular injunctions. Mr.. Broughton-, and Mr.
MenrifeS foHoWbd this man; who appeared exceedingly cautious and a,p-
prehenlfve of every Hep he took1. They had not proceeded far. when a
g e n e r a l f o l k a r y - gloom prevailed ; all;the houfes were, deferred,- and not
a living creature-, excepting; two or three dogs, were to be feen until
they arrived near the moral ; where, in a fmall houfe; three men were
obferved, who, moll' probably, were the centinels of the facred place.
Thefe
Thefe queflioned the guide in a very particular manner, and then acquaint- ‘ 79^-
ed him, that the body of Mahono had been removed to the morai, where u —y— „
it had Hopped the day before ; and that Pomurrey was there alfo. They
now took a curfory view of the holy fpot, which afforded little worthy
o f notice. It was terminated by high perpendicular rocks, whence
iffued feveral ftreams of water, whofe continued murmurs, affifted by the
wild and gloomy fituation of the morai, gave an awful folemnity to the
place, and fitted it to the mournful, facred purpofe, for which it is de-
figned. On the return o f thefe two gentlemen to join the reft o f the
party, they paffed the refidence of the young king Otoo. It confifted
of a middling-lized houfe, inclofed by a railing of wood, fituated on the
confines of the diftricts of Matavai and Oparre ; beyond which the religious
interdictions did not feem to extend any great diftance, as they
loon afterwards partook o f an excellent breakfall that Whytooa had taken
care to provide. They then returned to the encampment, extremely
well pleafed with their excurfion, on which they had been conftantly attended
by feveral of the natives, who were always ftruggling to be fore-
moft in a£ls of friendly attention; fuch as carrying the party over the
rivulets ; taking charge of their fuperfluous apparel, and other bundles;
which, although comprifed o f many articles highly valuable to them,
yet, in juftice to their honefty, it mull be recorded that the moll trivial
article was not miffed.
I ftiall take leave of this excurfion by adding a few ideas which, though
principally founded on conjecture, may not be unimportant, as they re-
fpeft thefe peculiar religious ceremonies. The opinion that the operation
o f embalming commenced at the morai near the mountains was
moll probably correft. One of the principal parts of this ceremony,
I have been given to underftand, is always performed in great fecrecy,
and with much religious fuperftition; this is the difembowelling of the
body. The bowels are, by thefe people, confidered as the immediate
organs of fenfation, where the firft imprelfions are received, and by
which all the operations o f the mind are carried o n : it is therefore
natural to conclude, that they may elleem, and venerate the inteftines,
as bearing the greateft affinity to tire immortal part. I have frequently
’ V o l . I. R held