1777* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 155 



Islands, during my last voyage, I observed that 

 many of the inhabitants had one or both of their 

 little fingers cut off; and we could not then re- 

 ceive any satisfactory account of the reason of 

 this mutilation.* But we now learned that this 

 operation is performed when they labour under some 

 grievous disease, and think themselves in danger of 

 dying. They suppose that the deity will accept of 

 the little finger, as a sort of sacrifice efficacious 

 enough to procure the recovery of their health. 

 They cut it off with one of their stone hatchets. 

 There was scarcely one in ten of them whom we 

 did not find thus mutilated in one or both hands; 

 which has a disagreeable effect, especially as they 

 sometimes cut so close, that they encroach upon 

 the bone of the hand which joins to the amputated 

 finger, t 



From the rigid severity with which some of these 

 mourning and religious ceremonies are executed, 

 one would expect to find that they meant thereby 

 to secure to themselves felicity beyond the grave ; 

 but their principal object relates to things merely 

 temporal. For they seem to have little conception 

 of future punishment for faults committed in this 

 life. They believe, however, that they are justly 

 punished upon earth; and, consequently, use every 

 method to render their divinities propitious. The 

 Supreme Author of most things they call Kallqfoot- 

 onga ; who, they say, is a female residing in the 

 sky, and directing the thunder, wind, rain ; and, in 

 general, all the changes of weather. They believe, 

 that when she is angry with them, the productions 

 of the earth are blasted; that many things are de- 

 stroyed by lightning; and that they themselves are 



* See Vol. III. p. 228. 



f It may be proper to mention here, on the authority of Cap- 

 tain King, that it is common for the inferior people to cut off a 

 joint of their little finger, on account of the sickness of the chiefs 

 to whom they belong. 



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