Russian Expedition to Japan. 13 



Swine's flesh is taaloo to the women ; but they eat hutr.aa 

 flesh when it is given to them. Ketenue and his whole t'a- 

 vi\\\\ v^'Qx a taaloo : those who bore Ketenue's name were 

 iaal'oo. 'J'he case was the same with the Englishman; so 

 that no one durst do him any hurt. There is a particular 

 ceremony by which people can make themselves taahoo. It 

 consists in binding feathers around the head^ dancing and 

 singing, and declaring that they desire to have Ketenue's 

 name. While this ceremony lasts, they are sate from ail 

 harm. One day it was taahoo for all the islanders to come 

 on board the ship, those only who brought hogs to the 

 ship were excepted. Those who break taaioo will be eaten 

 on the first opportunity by the enemy. This they so firmlv 

 believe, that it keeps them in order. When it is discovered 

 that any one has broken taahoo, he must make atonement 

 for his fault by giving presents, such as hogs, &c. which 

 the priest applies to his own use ; or he is deprived of his 

 land: if he has nothing, he becomes kikino; he is then 

 unprotected, and always in danger of being eaten by the 

 enemy. 



Tapeka Ketenue is said to possess a great deal of land; 

 he docs not go to war, but there is nothing to prevent him 

 if he chooses it. In times of scarcitv he maintains a great 

 many of the natives ; for, as he possesses abundance of bread- 

 fruit trees, he has large pits filled with fermented bread- 

 fruit, which in this state will keep a long time. I cannot 

 say much in favour of this kind of food ; it has a disgust- 

 ing sour smell, similar to that of fermenting wheat used 

 for manufacturing starch. He has no power to command 

 any person, but he and his family are taahoo; and as he is 

 able to give maintenance to a great many, for llse sea be- 

 longs to him, and all those who fish in it must bring him 

 part of what they catch, he is still an important personage. 

 He has also several houses. Roberts, who was well esta- 

 blished, had received from him a house with coco-nut and 

 bread-fruit trees. 



'To be cortinued-l 



JI. Some 



