8 A VOYAGE TO JAN. 



high, supporting an irregular kind of scaffold ; on 

 the opposite side, toward the sea, stood two small 

 houses, with a covered communication. 



We were conducted by Koah to the top of this 

 pile by an easy ascent, leading from the beach to the 

 north-west corner of the area. At the entrance, we 

 saw two large wooden images, with features violently 

 distorted, and a long piece of carved wood, of a coni- 

 cal form inverted, rising from the top of their heads ; 

 the rest was without form, and wrapped round with 

 red cloth. We were here met by a tall young man 

 with a long beard, who presented Captain Cook to 

 the images, and after chanting a kind of hymn, in 

 which he was joined by Koah, they led us to that end 

 of the Morai, where the five poles were fixed. At 

 the foot of them were twelve images ranged in a 

 semicircular form, and before the middle figure, 

 stood a high stand or table, exactly resembling the 

 Whatta * of Otaheite, on which lay a putrid hog, and 

 under it pieces of sugar-cane, cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, 

 plantains, and sweet potatoes. Koah having placed 

 the Captain under this stand, took down the hcg, 

 and held it toward him ; and after having a second 

 time addressed him in a long speech, pronounced 

 with much vehemence and rapidity, he let it fall on 

 the ground, and led him to the scaffolding, which 

 they began to climb together, not without great risk 

 of falling. At this time we saw, coming in solemn 

 procession, at the entrance of the top of the Moral, 

 ten men carrying a live hog, and a large piece of red 

 cloth. Being advanced a few paces, they stopped, 

 and prostrated themselves ; and Kaireekeea, the 

 young man above-mentioned, went to them, and 

 receiving the cloth, carried it to Koah, who wrapped 

 it round the Captain, and afterward offered him the 

 hog, which was brought by Kaireekeea with the 

 same ceremony. 



* See Captain Cook's former Voyage. 



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