30 cook's VOYAGE to SEPT. 



rived from him to acquaint Otoo, that he had killed 

 a man to be sacrificed to Eatooa, to implore the as- 

 sistance of the god against Eimeo. This act of wor- 

 ship was to be performed at the great Moral at At- 

 tahooroo ; and Otoo's presence, it seems, was abso- 

 lutely necessary on that solemn occasion. 



That the offering of human sacrifices is part of the 

 religious institutions of this island, had been men- 

 tioned by Mons. Bougainville, on the authority of 

 the native whom he carried with him to France. 

 During my last visit to Otaheite, and while I had 

 opportunities of conversing with Omai on the sub- 

 ject, 1 had satisfied myself that there was too much 

 reason to admit, that such a practice, however in- 

 consistent with the general humanity of the people, 

 was here adopted. But as this was one of those ex- 

 traordinary facts, about which many are apt to retain 

 doubts, unless the relater himself has had ocular 

 proof to confirm what he had heard from others, I 

 thought this a good opportunity of obtaining, the 

 highest evidence of its certainty, by being present 

 myself at the solemnity ; and, accordingly, proposed 

 to Otoo that I might be allowed to accompany him. 

 To this he readily consented ; and we immediately 

 set out in my boat, with my old friend Potatou, Mr. 

 Anderson, and Mr. Webber ; Omai following in a 

 canoe. 



In our way we landed upon a little island, which 

 lies off Tettaha, where we found Towha and his re- 

 tinue. After some little conversation between the 

 two chiefs, on the subject of the war, Towha ad- 

 dressed himself to me, asking my assistance. When 

 I excused myself, he seemed angry ; thinking it 

 strange that I, who had always declared myself to 

 be the friend of their island, would not now go and 

 fight against its enemies. Before we parted, he gave 

 to Otoo two or three red feathers, tied up in a tuft ; 

 and a lean, half-starved dog was put into a canoe 

 that was to accompany us. We then embarked again, 



