THEPACIFIC OCEAN. 43 



relate fome of his adventures, which they Hflened to with ^ '777' 



^ _ September. 



great attention, regardlefs of the folemn offices performing 

 by their priefts. Indeed, the prietls themfclves, except the 

 one who cliiefly repeated the prayers, either from their 

 being famiUarized to fuch objecfts, or from want of confi- 

 dence in the efficacy of their inftitutions, obferved very Uttle 

 of that folemnity, which is necefTary to give to rehgious 

 performances their due weight. Their drefs was only an 

 ordinary one; they converfed together, without fcruple; 

 and the only attempt made by them to preferve any appear- 

 ance of decency, was by exerting their authority, to prevent 

 the people from coming upon the very fpot where the ce- 

 remonies were performed ; and to fuffisr us, as flrangers, to 

 advance a little forward. They were, however, very candid 

 in their anfwers to any queftions that were put to them, 

 concerning the inflitution. And, particularly, on being 

 allced, what the intention of it was ? They faid, that it was 

 an old cuftom, and was agreeable to their god, who de- 

 lighted in, or, in other words, came and fed upon the fa- 

 crifices ; in confequence of which, he complied with their 

 petitions. Upon its being objecfted, that he could not feed 

 on thefe, as he was neither feen to do it, nor were the bo- 

 dies of the animals quickly confumed, and that as to the 

 human vi(5tim, they prevented his feeding on him, by bury- 

 ing him. But to all this they anfwered, that he came in the 

 night, but invifibly ; and fed only on the foul, or immate- 

 rial part, which, according to their dodlrine, remains about 

 the place of facrifice, until the body of the vidlim be en- 

 tirely wafled by putrefaction. 



It were much to be wifned, that this deluded people may 

 learn to entertain the fame horror of murdering their fel- 

 low-creatures, in order to furnifli fuch an invifible banquet 



G 2 to 



