462 COOK J S VOYAGE TO JULY, 



obeisance in the usual way, lays hold of his foot 

 and applies it to her breast, shoulders, and other 

 parts of her body. He then embraces her on each 

 shoulder ; after which she retires purified from her 

 uncleanness. I do not know that it is always 

 necessary to come to the king for this purpose, 

 though Omai assured me it was. If this be so, it 

 may be one reason why he is, for the most part, 

 travelling from island to island. I saw this ce- 

 remony performed by him two or three times ; 

 and once by Feenou, to one of his own women ; 

 but as Omai was not then with me, I could not ask 

 the occasion. 



Taboo, as I have before observed, is a word of 

 an extensive signification. Human sacrifices are 

 called tangata taboo; and when any thing is for- 

 bidden to be eaten, or made use of, they say that it is 

 taboo. They tell us, that if the king should happen 

 to go into a house belonging to a subject, that house 

 would be taboo, and could never more be inhabited 

 by the owner; so that wherever he travels, there 

 are particular houses for his reception. Old Too- 

 bou, at this time, presided over the taboo ; that is, 

 if Omai comprehended the matter rightly, he and his 

 deputies inspected all the produce of the island ; 

 taking care that every man should cultivate and 

 plant his quota ; and ordering what should be eaten, 

 and what not. By this wise regulation they effec- 

 tually guard against a famine -> a sufficient quantity 

 of ground is employed in raising provisions ; and 

 every article thus raised, is secured from un- 

 necessary waste. 



By another prudent regulation in their govern- 

 ment, they have an officer over the police, or some- 

 thing like it. This department, when we were 

 amongst them, was administered by Feenou ; whose 

 business we were told it was to punish all offenders, 

 whether against the state or against individuals. He 

 was also generalissimo, and commanded the war- 



