1777* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 41 



chiefly repeated the prayers, either from their being 

 familiarized to such objects, or from want of confi- 

 dence in the efficacy of their institutions, observed 

 very little of that solemnity, which is necessary to 

 give to religious performances their due weight. 

 Their dress was only an ordinary one ; they con- 

 versed together without scruple ; and the onlyattempt 

 made by them to preserve any appearance of decency, 

 was by exerting their authority to prevent the people 

 from coming upon the very spot where the ceremo- 

 nies were performed, and to suffer us, as strangers, 

 to advance a little forward. They were, however, 

 very candid in their answers to any questions that 

 were put to them concerning the institution. And 

 particularly, on being asked what the intention of it 

 was? thev said that it was an old custom, and was 

 agreeable to their god, who delighted in, or, in other 

 words, cam'e and fed upon the sacrifices ; in conse- 

 quence of which, he complied with their petitions. 

 Upon its being objected that he could not feed on 

 these, as he was neither seen to do it, nor were the 

 bodies of the animals quickly consumed ; and that, as 

 to the human victim, they prevented his feeding on 

 him, by burying him. But to all this they answered, 

 that he came in the night, but invisibly, and fed only 

 on the soul or immaterial part, which, according to 

 their doctrine, remains about the place of sacrifice, 

 until the body of the victim be entirely wasted by 

 putrefaction. 



It were much to be wished that this deluded 

 people may learn to entertain the same horror of 

 murdering their fellow-creatures, in order to furnish 

 such an invisible banquet to their god, as they now 

 have of feeding, corporeally, on human flesh them- 

 selves. And, yet, we have great reason to believe, that 

 there was a time when they were cannibals. We were 

 told (and, indeed, partly saw it), that it is a necessary 

 ceremony, when a poor wretch is sacrificed, for the 

 priest to take out the left eye. This he presents to the 



