166 TRADITIONARY TALES. 



over the grave of his beloved consort. To this 

 opinion they were indebted for a veneration 

 greater than that entertained for the gods them- 

 selves. The priests alone had the privilege of 

 providing for their wants, which the}^ did with 

 the utmost care : the people were not even 

 allowed to approach the neighbourhood of the 

 Marai. 



The white men, however, soon found their 

 time hang heavy in this entire seclusion, and 

 formed a more intimate connexion with the 

 priests, whom they assisted in the holy rites 

 and ceremonies, and at length even made their 

 appearance among the people : the latter then 

 discovered them to be mortals like the'm selves, 

 differing only in colour, but still retained a high 

 respect for their superior knowledge and good 

 deportment. Maidens of the highest rank were 

 given to them for wives; and each of them was 

 installed governor of an island. " The descend- 

 ants of these strangers," said Karemaku, " may 

 still be distinguished by their whiter colour.*" 

 Here, as at Tahaiti, the Yeris differ from the 

 lower classes in their superior size, and some 

 also by a greater degree of fairness. 



