H cook's voyage to SEPT. 



CHAP. III. 



CONFERENCE WITH TOWHA. HEEVAS DESCRIBED. OMAI 



AND OEDIDEE GIVE DINNERS. FIREWORKS EXHIBITED. 



A REMARKABLE PRESENT OF CLOTH. MANNER OF PRE- 

 SERVING THE BODY OF A DEAD CHIEF. ANOTHER HU- 

 MAN SACRIFICE. RIDING ON HORSEBACK. OTOo's AT- 

 TENTION TO SUPPLY PROVISIONS AND PREVENT THEFTS. 



ANIMALS GIVEN TO HIM. ETARV, AND THE DEPUTIES 



OF A CHIEF HAVE AUDIENCES. A MOCK-FIGHT OF TWO 



WAR CANOES. NAVAL STRENGTH OF THESE ISLANDS. 



MANNER OF CONDUCTING A WAR. 



1 he close of the very singular scene exhibited at 

 the morale which I have faithfully described in the 

 last chapter, leaving us no other business in Atta- 

 hooroo, we embarked about noon, in order to return 

 to Matavai ; and, in our way, visited Tow ha, who 

 had remained on the little island, where we met him 

 the day before. Some conversation passed between 

 Otoo and him, on the present posture of public af- 

 fairs ; and then the latter solicited me, once more, to 

 join them in their war against Eimeo. By my positive 

 refusal I entirely lost the good graces of this chief. 



Before we parted, he asked us, if the solemnity, at 

 which we had been present, answered our expect- 

 ations ; what opinion we had of its efficacy ; and 

 whether we performed such acts of worship in our 

 own country ? During the celebration of the horrid 

 ceremony, we had preserved a profound silence; but, 

 as soon as it was closed, had made no scruple in ex- 

 pressing our sentiments very freely about it, to Otoo, 

 and those who attended him ; of course, therefore, I 

 did not conceal my detestation of it, in this convers- 

 ation with Towha. Besides the cruelty of the bloody 

 custom, I strongly urged the unreasonableness of it ; 

 telling the chiefj that such a sacrifice, far from mak- 

 ing the Eatooa propitious to their nation, as they ig- 



