THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 163 



We were able to learn but little of their notions with re- *w- 



n March. 



gard to a future Hate. Whenever we afked them, whither 

 the dead were gone? we were always anfwered, that the 

 breath, which they appeared to coniider as the foul, or im- 

 mortal part, was gone to the Eatooa ; and, on pufhing our 

 inquiries farther, they feemed to defcribe fome particular 

 place, where they imagined the abode of the deceafed to be; 

 but we could not perceive, that they thought, in this ftate, 

 either rewards or punifhmcnts awaited them. 



Having promifed the Reader, in the firft Chapter, an ex- 

 planation of what was meant by the word taboo, I mail, in 

 this place, lay before him the particular inftances that fell 

 under our obfervation, of its application and effects. On 

 our inquiring into the reafons of the interdiction of all in- 

 tercourfe between us and the natives, the clay preceding the 

 arrival of Terreeoboo, we were told, that the Ray was ta- 

 booed. The fame rcftriction took place, at our requeft, the 

 day we interred the bones of Captain Cook. In thefe two 

 inftances the natives paid the moft implicit and fcrupulous 

 obedience ; but whether on any religious principle, or mere- 

 ly in deference to the civil authority of their Chiefs, I can- 

 not determine. When the ground near our obfervatories, 

 and the place where our mails lay, were tabooed, by flicking 

 imall wands round them, this operated in a manner not 

 lefs efficacious. But though this mode of confecration was 

 performed by the priefts only, yet flill, as the men ventured 

 to come within the fpacc, when invited by us, it mould 

 feem, that they were under no religious apprehcnfions ; 

 and that their obedience was limited to our refufal only. 

 The women could, by no means, be induced to come near 

 us ; but this was probably on account of the Moral adjoin- 

 ing-, which they are prohibited, at all times, and in all the 



Y 2 iflands 



