136 RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES. 
Cook was once present at one of these detesta- 
ble oblations, and describes it circumstantially. 
Its object was to propitiate the assistance of the 
Gods, in a war about to be undertaken. 
The victim was always of the lower class. 
He was first killed, and the ceremonies were 
afterwards performed by the priests, and many 
prayers recited, in presence of the King and 
people. One of the formalities was the presen- 
tation of the left eye to the King, which how- 
ever he did not receive. From this, Cook infers 
that the Tahaitians had at some period been 
eaters of human flesh, and that this morsel was 
offered to the King as a delicacy. If this con- 
jecture be well-founded, which I think it is not, 
so horrible an appetite must have long since dis- 
appeared, as not a trace of it now remains. It 
is besides altogether contrary to the character 
and manners of the people. So, indeed, is the 
oblation of human victims; but this horrible 
rite had certainly been introduced by the priests, 
for the purpose of attracting towards their office 
an increased degree of veneration and awe. The 
burial of the dead was accompanied by many 
religious ceremonies, but with the birth of a child, 
