i68 AVOYAGETO 



'777. two men called Taheeai ; the only name they yet have for 



December. ^ ^ ' 



' 1^ ' cannibals. None knew from whence they came, or in what 



manner they arrived at the ifland. Their habitation was in 

 the mountains, from whence they ufed to ilTue, and kill 

 many of the natives, whom they afterward devoured, and, 

 by that means, prevented the progrefs oi. population. Two 

 brothers, determined to rid their country of iuch a formi- 

 dable enemy, ufed a flratagem for their deilruclion, with fuc- 

 cefs. Thefc dill lived farther upward than the Taheeai^ and 

 in fuch a fuuation, that they could fpcak with them, with- 

 out greatly hazarding their own fafety. They invited them 

 to accept of an entertainment, that llioukl be provided for 

 them, to which thefe readily confcnted. The brothers then 

 taking fome flones, heated them in a fire, and thrufting 

 them into pieces of mahee^ dcGred one of the Taheeai to open 

 his mouth. On which, one of thefc pieces was dropped in, 

 , and fome water poured down, which made a boiling or hilT- 

 ing noife, in quenching the flone, and killed him. They 

 intreated the other to do the fame; but he declined it, repre- 

 fenting the confequences of his companion's eating. How- 

 ever, they afTurcd him, that the food was excellent, and its 

 elleifls only temporary; for that the other woidd foon re- 

 cover. His credulity was fuch, that he fwallowed the bair, 

 and fliared the fate of the lirfl. The natives then cut them 

 in pieces, which they buried ; and conferred the govern- 

 ment of the ifland on the brothers, as a reward for deliver- 

 ing them from fuch monilers. Their refidence was in the 

 dilliii51: called Whapaeenoo; and, to this day, there remains 

 a bread-fiuit tree, once the property of {he 'J'nhecais. They 

 had alfo a woman, who lived with them, and had two teeth 

 of a prothgious fize. After they were killed, flie lived at 

 the ifland Otaha, and, when dead, was ranked amongll 

 3 thf - 



