THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 159 



Their Morals, their Whattas, their idols, their facrifices, and '779- 



• r 11 March. 



their facred tongs, all of which they have in common with 

 each other, are convincing proofs, that their religious no- 

 tions are delved from the fame fource. In the length and 

 number of their ceremonies, this branch indeed far exceeds 

 the reft ; and, though in all thefe countries, there is a cer- 

 tain clafs of men, to whofe care the performance of their 

 religi jv s ri<-es is committed . yet we had never met with a 

 regular fociety of priefts, till we difcovered the cloifters of 

 Kakooa in Karakakooa Bay. The head of this order was 

 called Orono ; a title which we imagined to imply fomething 

 highly facred, and which, in the perfon of Omeeah, was 

 honoured almoft to adoration. It is probable, that the pri- 

 vilege of entering into this order (at leaft as to the princi- 

 pal offices in it), is limited to certain families. Omeeah, 

 the OronO) was the fon of Kaoo, and the uncle of Kairee- 

 keea; which laft prefided, during the abfence of his grand- 

 father, in all religious ceremonies at the Moral. It was alfo 

 remarked, that the child of Omeeah, an only fon, about 

 live years old, was never fuffcred to appear without a num- 

 ber of attendants, and fuch other marks of care and folici- 

 tude, as we faw no other like inftance of. This feemed to 

 indicate, that his life was an object of the greatefl: moment, 

 and that he was deflined to fucceed to the high rank of his 

 father. 



It has been mentioned, that the title of Orono, with all its 

 honours, was given to Captain Cook ; and it is alfo certain, 

 that they regarded us, generally, as a race of people fupe- 

 rior to themfelves ; and ufed often to fay, that great Eatooa 

 dwelled in our country. The little image, which we 

 have before defcribed, as the favourite idol on the Moral 

 in Karakakooa Bay, they call Kconooraekalce^ and faid it 



was 



