1777. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. TjS 



According to Omai's report of what he learnt in 

 conversation with his three countrymen, the man- 

 ners of these islanders, their method of treating 

 strangers, and their general habits of life, are much 

 like those that prevail at Otaheite, and its neigh- 

 bouring isles. Their religious ceremonies and 

 opinions are also nearly the same. For upon seeing 

 one man, who was painted all over of a deep black 

 colour, and inquiring the reason, our gentlemen 

 were told that he had lately been paying the last 

 good offices to a deceased friend, and they found 

 that it was upon similar occasions the women cut 

 themselves, as already mentioned. From every cir- 

 cumstance, indeed, it is indubitable, that the natives 

 of Wateeoo sprung, originally, from the same stock, 

 which hath spread itself so wonderfully all over the 

 immense extent of the South Sea. One would sup- 

 pose, however, that they put in their claim to a more 

 illustrious extraction, for Omai assured us, that they 

 dignified their island with the appellation of Wenooa 

 no te Eatooa, that is, a land of gods ; esteeming 

 themselves a sort of divinities, and possessed with 

 the spirit of the Eatooa. This wild enthusiastic 

 notion Omai seemed much to approve of, telling us 

 there were instances of its being entertained at 

 Otaheite, but that it was universally prevalent 

 amongst the inhabitants of Mataia, or Osnaburg 

 Island. 



The language spoken at Wateeoo was equally 

 well understood by Omai, and by our two New 

 Zealanders. What its peculiarities may be when 

 compared with the other dialects, I am not able to 

 point out ; for though Mr. Anderson had taken 

 care to note down a specimen of it, the natives, 

 who made no distinction of the objects of their 

 theft, stole the memorandum-book. 



vol. v. T 



