^773- ROUND THE WOULD. 193 



uncover before him, or pay him any outward obei- 

 sance, as is done to Otoo ; nevertheless, they seem to 

 show him full as much respect, and he appeared in 

 rather more state. He was attended by a few mid* 

 die-aged or elderly men, who seemed to be his coun- 

 sellors. This is what appeared to me to be the then 

 state of Otaheite. The other islands, that is, Hua- 

 heine, Ulietea, and Otaha, were in a more flourishing 

 state than they were when I was there before. Since 

 that time, they had enjoyed the blessing of peace ; 

 the people seemed to be as happy as any under 

 heaven ; and well they may, for they possess not 

 only the necessaries, but many of the luxuries of 

 life in the greatest profusion ; and my young man 

 told me that hogs, fowls, and fruits are in equal 

 plenty at Bola-bola, a thing which Tupia would never 

 allow. To clear up this seeming contradiction, I 

 must observe, that the one was prejudiced against, 

 and the other in favour of, this isle. 



The produce of the islands, the manners and cus- 

 toms of the natives, &c. having been treated at large 

 in the narrative of my former voyage, it will be un- 

 necessary to take notice of these subjects in this, 

 unless where I can add new matter, or clear up any 

 mistakes which may have been committed. 



As I had some reason to believe, that amongst 

 their religious customs, human sacrifices were some- 

 times considered as necessary, I went one day to a 

 Marai in Matavai, in company with Captain Fur- 

 neaux ; having with us, as I had upon all other 

 occasions, one of my men who spoke their language 

 tolerably well, and several of the natives, one of 

 whom appeared to be an intelligent, sensible man. 

 In the Marai was a Tupapow, on which lay a corpse 

 and some viands ; so that every thing promised suc- 

 cess to my inquiries. I began with asking questions 

 relating to the several objects before me, if the plan- 

 tains, &c. were for the Eatua? If they sacrificed to 

 the Eatua, hogs, dogs, fowls, &c. to all of which 



vol. in. o 



