1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 9 



Whilst Captain Cook was aloft, in this awkward 

 situation, swathed round with red cloth, and with 

 difficulty keeping his hold amongst the pieces of 

 rotten scaffolding, Kaireekeea and Koah began their 

 office, chanting sometimes in concert, and sometimes 

 alternately. This lasted a considerable time ; at 

 length Koah let the hog drop, when he and the 

 Captain descended together. He then led him to 

 the images before mentioned, and having said some- 

 thing to each in a sneering tone, snapping his fingers 

 at them as he passed, he brought him to that in the 

 centre, which, from its being covered with red cloth, 

 appeared to be in greater estimation than the rest. 

 Before this figure he prostrated himself, and kissed 

 it, desiring Captain Cook to do the same; who suffer- 

 ed himself to be directed by Koah throughout the 

 whole of this ceremony. 



We were now led back into the other division of 

 the Morai y where there was a space, ten or twelve 

 feet square, sunk about three feet below the level of 

 the area. Into this we descended, and Captain Cook 

 was seated between two wooden idols, Koah support- 

 ing one of his arms, whilst I was desired to support 

 the other. At this time, arrived a second procession 

 of natives, carrying a baked hog, and a pudding, 

 some bread-fruit, cocoa-nuts, and other vegetables. 

 When they approached us, Kaireekeea put himself 

 at their head, and presenting the pig to Captain 

 Cook in the usual manner, began the same kind of 

 chant as before, his companions making regular 

 responses. We observed, that after every response, 

 their parts became gradually shorter, till, toward the 

 close, Kaireekeea's consisted of only two or three 

 words, which the rest answered by the word Qrono. 



When this offering was concluded, which lasted a 

 quarter of an hour, the natives sat down, fronting us, 

 and began to cut up the baked hog, to peel the 

 vegetables, and break the cocoa-nuts ; whilst others 

 employed themselves in brewing the ova; which is 



