T HE P A C I F I C O C E A N. 141 



CHAP. IX. 



Accounts of Otaheitejlill imperfeEi. — The prevailing Wi?ids. 

 — Beauiy (.J the Country. — Cultivation. — Natural Cu- 

 riojities. — The Perfons of the Natives. — Difeafes, — Ge- 

 neral CharaEier- — Love of Pleafure. — Language. — 

 Surgery and Phyftc. — Articles of Food. — EffeBs of 

 dri7tking Ava. — Times and Manner of Eating. — Con- 

 neStions with the Females. — Circmncifton. — Syflcm of Re- 

 ligion. — Notions about the Soul and a future Life. — 

 F'arious Superflitic?is. — Traditions about the Creation. — > 

 An hiflorical Legend. — Honours paid to the Ki?2g. — • 

 Diflin&ion of Ranks. — Punifljment of Crimes. — Pecu- 

 liarities of the 7teighbouring Ifands. — Na?nes of their 

 Gods. — Names of Ifands they vift. — Extent of their-' 

 Navigation. 



«< r-jp o what has been faid of Otaheiie, in the accounts of 1777. 



-i the fucceffive voyages of Captain Wallis, Monf. de ^ ^'^^'^ "'. 

 Bougainville, and Captain Cook, it would, at lirft fight, 

 feem fuperfluous to add any thing ; as it might be fuppolcd, 

 that little could be now produced, but a repetition of what 

 has been told before. I am, however, far from being of 

 that opinion ; and will venture to affirm, though a very ac- 

 curate defcription of the country, and of the moft obvious 

 cuftoms of its inhabitants, has been already given, cfpe- 

 cially by Captain Cook, that much Hill remains untouched ; 

 that, in fome inilances, miftakes have been made, which 

 4 later 



