1769. ROUND THE WORLD. ^3? 



they do not suppose that their actions here in the 

 least influence their future state, or indeed that they 

 come under the cognizance of their deities at all. 

 Their religion, therefore, if it has no influence upon 

 their morals, is at least disinterested ; and their ex- 

 pressions of adoration and reverence, whether by 

 words or actions, arise only from a humble sense of 

 their own inferiority, and the ineffable excellence of 

 divine perfection. 



The character of the priest or Tahowa, is heredi- 

 tary : the class is numerous, and consists of all ranks 

 of people ; tlie chief, however, is generally the 

 younger brother of a good family, and is respected 

 in a degree next to their kings. Of the little know- 

 ledge that is possessed in this country, the priests 

 have the greatest share ; but it consists principally in 

 an acquaintance with the names and ranks of the 

 different Eatuas or subordinate divinities, and the 

 opinions concerning the origin of things, which have 

 been traditionally preserved among the order in de- 

 tached sentences, of which some will repeat an in- 

 credible number, though but very few of the words 

 that are used in their common dialect occur in them. 

 The priests, however, are superior to the rest of 

 the people in the knowledge of navigation and as- 

 tronomy ; and, indeed, the name Tahowa signifies no- 

 thing more than a man of knowledge. As there are 

 priests of every class, they officiate only among that 

 class to which they belong : the priest of the inferior 

 class is never called upon by those of superior rank, 

 nor will the priest of the superior rank officiate for 

 any of the inferior class. 



Marriage in this island, as appeared to us, is no- 

 thing more than an agreement between the man and 

 woman, with which the priest has no concern. Where 

 it is contracted, it appears to be pretty well kept, 

 though sometimes the parties separate by mutual 

 consent, and in that case a divorce takes place with 

 as little trouble as the marriage. 



