THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 6y 



the priefts, to be made ufe of in fome religious ceremony ,• I 779- 



February. 



and that he had fent it as a proof of his innocence and at- 

 tachment to us. 



This afforded an opportunity of informing ourfelves, 

 whether they were cannibals ; and we did not neglect it. 

 We firft tried, by many indirect queftions, put to each of 

 them apart, to learn in what manner the reft of the bodies 

 had been difpofed of; and finding them very conftant in 

 one flory, that, after the flefh had been cut off, it was all 

 burnt; we at laft put the direct qucftion, Whether they 

 had not eat fome of it ? They immediately mewed as 

 much horror at the idea, as any European would have done* 

 and afked, very naturally, if that was the cuilom amongft 

 us? They afterv/ard afked us, with great earneftncfs and 

 apparent apprehenfion, " When the Orono would come 

 again ? and what he would do to them on his return:" The 

 fame inquiry was frequently made afterward by others > 

 and this idea agrees with the general tenour of their con- 

 duct toward him, which fhewed, that they confidered him 

 as a being of a fuperior nature. 



We preffedour two friendly vifiters to remain on board till 

 morning ; but in vain. They told us, that, if this tranfaction 

 mould come to the knowledge of the king, or Chiefs, it might 

 be attended with the mo ft fatal confequenccs to their whole 

 fociety ; in order to prevent which, they had been obliged 

 to come off to us in the dark ; and that the fame precaution 

 would be neceffary in returning on fhorc. They informed 

 us farther, that the Chiefs were eager to revenge the death 

 of their countrymen ; and, particularly, cautioned us againfl 

 trulling Koah, who, they laid, was our mortal and im- 

 placable enemy ; and defired nothing more ardently, than 



an 



