was Terreeoboo’s G o d ; and that h e alfo refided amongfl
us.
T he re are found an infinite variety o f thefe images, both
o n the Morais, and within and without their houfes, to w h ich
the y giv e difFerent names ; but it foon became obvious to
us in how little eftimation th e y were held, from their fre quent
expreflions o f contempt o f them, and from their even
offe rin g them to fale fo r trifles. A t the fame time, there
feldom failed to be fome one particular figure in favour, to
w hich, whilft this preference lafted, a ll their adoration was
addreffed. This confifted in a rraying it in red c lo th ; beatin
g their drums, and fing ing hymns before it; la y in g
bunches o f red feathers, and difFerent forts o f vegetables, at
its f e e t ; and expofing a p ig, or a dog, to rot on the whatta
that flood near it.
In a ba y to the Southward o f Karakakooa, a party o f our
gentlemen were conducted to a large houfe, in w h ich they
found the black figure o f a man, refling on his fingers and
toes, with his head inclined b a c kw a rd ; the limbs w e ll
formed and exaCtly proportioned, and the whole beautifully
polifhed. This figure the natives called Uaee; and'round
it were placed thirteen others o f rude and diftorted fhapes,
w hich they faid were the Eatooas o f feveral deceafed Chiefs,
whofe names they recounted. T h e place was fu ll o f vuhattas,
on w hich lay the remains o f their offerings. T h e y likewife
giv e a place in their houfes to many ludicrous and fome
obfcene idols, like the Priapus o f the ancients.
It hath been remarked, by former voyagers, that both
among the Society and Friendly Iilanders, an adoration is
paid to particular b ird s; and I am led to believe, that the
fame cuftom prevails h e r e ; and that, probably, the raven is
the
th e objeCts o f it, from fee ing two o f thefe birds tame at the
villa ge o f Kakooa, w h ich they told me were Eatooas; and, \ —
re fufing every thin g I offered for them, cautioned me, at
the fame time, not to hurt or offend them.
Among fl their religious ceremonies, ma y be reckoned the
prayers and offerings made b y the priefts before their meals.
•Whilft the ava is chew in g, o f w hich they always drink before
they begin their repaft, the perfon o f the higheft rank
takes the lead in a fort o f hymn, in w hich he is prefently
joined by one, two, or more o f the company ; the reft movin
g their bodies, and ftriking their hands g en tly together,
in concert with the fingers. When the ava is ready, cups o f
i t are handed about to thofe w ho do not jo in in the fong,
w h ich they keep in their hands till it is en d ed ; when, unitin
g in one loud refponfe, they drink o ff their cup. T he
performers o f the h ym n are then ferved w ith ava, w ho
d r ink it after a repetition o f the fame ce rem o n y ; and, i f
there be prefent one o f a very fuperior rank, a cup is, laft
o f all, prefented to him, w h ich , after chanting fome time
alone, and b e in g anfwered b y the reft, and pouring a little
out on the ground, he drinks off. A piece o f the flelli that
is dreffed, is next cut off, withou t any feleCtion o f the part
o f the a n im a l; w hich, together w ith fome o f the vegetables,
being depofited at the foot o f the image o f the Eatooa, and a
hym n chanted, their meal commences. A ceremony o f
much the fame kind is alfo performed b y the Chiefs, w hen ever
they drink ava, between their meals.
Human facrifices are more frequent hefe, according to
the account o f the natives themfelves, than in any other
iflands w e vifited. Thefe horrid rites are not only had re-
courfe to upon the commencement o f war, and preceding
V o l . III. Y great