THEPACIFICOCEAN. 37 



part the day before, began another prayer, which lafted *777- 

 about lialf an liour. During ihe continuance of this, the 

 tufts of feathers were, one by one, carried and laid upon 

 the ark of the Eatooa. 



Some httle time after, four pigs were produced; one of 

 which was immediately killed ; and the others were taken 

 to a fty, hard by, probably referved for fome future occa- 

 fion of facrifice. One of the bimdles was now untied ; and 

 it was found, as I have before obferved, to contain the 

 maro^ with which thefe people inveft their kings; and which 

 feems to anfwer, in fome degree, to the European enfigns 

 of royalty. It was carefully taken out of the cloth, in which 

 it had been wrapped up, and fpread, at full length, upon 

 the ground before the prierts. It is a girdle, about five 

 yards long, and fifteen inches broad ; and, from its name, 

 feems to be put on in the fame manner as is tlie common 

 maro, or piece of cloth, ufed, by thefe people, to wrap round 

 the waift. It was ornamented with red and yellow feathers ; 

 but moftly with the latter, taken from a dove found upon 

 the ifland. The one end was bordered with eight pieces, 

 eacli about the fize and fliape of a horfe-flioc, having their 

 edges fringed with black feathers. The other end was 

 forked, and the points were of different lengths. The fea- 

 thers were in fquare compartments, ranged in two rows, 

 and, otherwife, fo difpofed as to produce a pleafing cffedl. 

 They had been firft pafted or fixed upon fome of their own 

 country cloth ; and then fewed to the upper end of the 

 pendant which Captain Wallis had difplaycd, and left flying 

 afliore, the firft time that he landed at Matavai. This was 

 what they told us ; and we had no reafon to doubt it, as 

 we could eafily trace the remains of an Englifii pendant. 

 About fix or eight inches fquare of the jnaro was unorna- 



mentedj 



3 



