40 



Sepie tuber. 



A V O Y A G E TO 



'777- Thofc who are devoted to fulTcr, in order to perform this 



bloody a(5t of worfhip, are never apprized of their fate, till 

 the blow is given that puts an end to their exiftence. When- 

 ever any one of the great Chiefs thinks a human facrifice 

 necefTary, on any particular emergency, he pitches upon 

 the vi(5lim. Some of his trufty fervants are then fent, who 

 fall upon him fuddcnly, and put him to death with a club, 

 or by ftoning him. The king is next acquainted with ir, 

 whofe prefence, at the folemn rites that follow, is, as I was 

 told, abfolutely neceflary ; and, indeed, on the prefent oc- 

 cafion, we could obferve, that Otoo bore a principal part- 

 The folemnity itfclf is called Poore Eree, or Chief's Prayer; 

 and the vi(5lim, who is offered up, Taata-tahoo^ or confe- 

 crated man. This is the only inftance where we have heard 

 the word tahoo ufed at this illand, where it feems to have 

 the fame myllerious fignification as at Tonga ; though it is 

 there applied to all cafes where things are not to be 

 touched. But at Otaheite, the word raa ferves the fame 

 purpofc, and is full as extenfive in its meaning. 



The viorai (which, undoubtedly, is a place of worfhip, fa- 

 crifice, and burial, at the lame time), where the fixcrifice 

 was now offered, is that where the fuprcme Chief of 

 the whole ifland, is always buried, and is appropriated to 

 his family, and fome of tlic principal people. It differs 

 little from the common ones, except in extent. Its prin- 

 cipal parr, is a large, oblong pile of flones, lying loofely 

 upon each other, about twelve or fourteen feet high, con- 

 tra(5led towards the top, with a fquare area, on each fide,, 

 loofely paved with pebble flones, under which the bones of 

 the Chiefs are buried. At a little diflancc from the end 

 neareft the fca, is the place where the facrifices arc offered ; 

 which, for a confidcrable extent, is alfo loofely paved. 



There 



