158 cook's voyage to dec. 



siderecl the offering of the person's eye who is sacri- 

 ficed, to the chief, as a vestige of a custom which 

 once really existed to a greater extent, and is still 

 commemorated by this emblematical ceremony. 



The being invested with the ?naro, and the presid- 

 ing at human sacrifices, seem to be the peculiar cha- 

 racteristics of the sovereign. To these, perhaps, may 

 be added, the blowing a conch-shell, which produces 

 a very loud sound. On hearing it, all his subjects 

 are obliged to bring food of every sort to his royal 

 residence in proportion to their abilities. On some 

 other occasions, they carry their veneration for his 

 very name to an extravagant and very destructive 

 pitch. For if, on his accession to the metro, any words 

 in their language be found to have a resemblance to 

 it in sound, they are changed for others ; and if any 

 man be bold enough not to comply, and continue to 

 use those words, not only he, but all his relations, 

 are immediately put to death. The same severity is 

 exercised toward those who shall presume to apply 

 this sacred name to any animal. And, agreeably to 

 this custom of his countrymen, Omai used to express 

 his indignation, that the English should give the 

 names of prince or princess to their favourite horses 

 or dogs. But while death is the punishment for mak- 

 ing free with the name of their sovereign, if abuse be 

 only levelled at his government, the offender escapes 

 with the forfeiture of land and houses. 



The king never enters the house of any of his sub- 

 jects ; but has, in every district, where he visits, 

 houses belonging to himself. And if, at any time, 

 he should be obliged by accident to deviate from this 

 rule, the house thus honoured with his presence, and 

 every part of its furniture, is burnt. His subjects 

 not only uncover to him, when present, down to the 

 waist; but if he be at any particular place, a pole, 

 having a piece of cloth tied to it, is set up some- 

 where near, to which they pay the same honours. 

 His brothers are also intitled to the first part of the 



