THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 351 



was conducfled with a great deal of myfterious foleranity ; 

 and, that there was a mixture of leligion in the inditutionj 

 was evident, not only from the place where it was per- 

 formed, but from the manner of performing it. Our drefs 

 and deportment had never been called in quefiion, upon any 

 former occafion whatever. Now, it was expetfled that we 

 fhould be uncovered as low as the waift ; that our hair 

 fhould be loofe, and flowing over our flioulders; that we 

 Ihould, like themfelves, lit crofs-legged ; and, at times, in 

 the mod humble poflurc, with down-cafl eyes, and hands 

 locked together ; all which requilites were mofl devoutly 

 obfcrved by the whole alTcmbly. And, laflly, every one 

 was CAcluded from the folemnity, but the principal people, 

 and thofe who aflifted in the celebration, All thefe circum- 

 ftances were to me a fufFiclent teftimony, that, upon this- 

 occafion, they confidered themfelves as acTcing under the 

 immediate infpe(5tion of a Supreme Being, 



The prefent Natche may be conlidered, from the above ac- 

 count of it, as merely figurative,. For the fmall quantity of 

 yams, v/hich we faw the firft day, could not be intended as 

 a general contribution ; and, indeed, we were given to un- 

 derftand, that they were a portion confecrated to the 0/o5^, 

 or Divinity. But we were informed, that, in about three 

 months, there would be performed, on the fame account, 

 a far more important and grander folemnity ; on which oc- 

 cafion, not only the tribute of Tongaraboo, but that of Ha- 

 paee, Vavaoo, and of all the other iflands, would be brought 

 to the Chief, and confirmed more awfully, by facrificing 

 ten human vidims fror.i amongft the inferior fort of people. 

 A honid folemnity indeed i and which is a moft fignificant 

 inflance of the influence of gloomy and ignorant fuperfli- 

 tion, over the minds of one of the moft benevolent and liu- 



• . mane-. 



