THIRD VOYAGE 277 



require an uncommon degree of affection, or the grossest 

 superstition to exact. It should be observed, however, that 

 the more painful operations are only practised on account of 

 the death of those most nearly connected. The common 

 people are interred in no particular spot. 



" Their long and general mourning proves that they 

 consider death as a very great evil. And this is confirmed 

 by a very odd custom which they practise to avert it. They 

 suppose that the Deity will accept of the little finger as 

 a sort of sacrifice efficacious enough to procure the recovery 

 of their health. There was scarcely one in ten of them 

 whom we did not find thus mutilated in one or both hands. 



" They seem to have little conception of future punish- 

 ment. They believe, however, that they are justly punished 

 upon earth, and consequently use every method to render 

 their divinities propitious. The Supreme Author of most 

 things they call Kallafootonga, who, they say, is a female 

 residing in the sky, and directing the thunder, wind, rain, 

 and in general all the changes of weather. Thdjr believe 

 that when she is angry with them, the productions of the 

 earth are blasted, that many things are destroyed by 

 lightning, and that they themselves are afflicted with sick- 

 ness and death, as well as their hogs and other animals. 

 When this anger abates, they suppose that everything is 

 restored to its natural order. They also admit a plurality of 

 deities, though all inferior to Kallafootonga. But their 

 notions of the power and other attributes of these beings 

 are so very absurd, that they suppose they have no farther 

 concern with them after death. 



" They have, however, very proper sentiments about the 

 immateriality and the immortality of the soul. They call 

 it life, the living principle ; or, what is more agreeable to 

 their notions of it, an Otooa, that is, a divinity or invisible 

 being. 



" Of the nature of their government, we know no more 

 than the general outline. Some of them told us that the 

 power of the king is unlimited, and that the life and property 

 of the subject are at his disposal ; and we saw instances 

 enough to prove that the lower order of people have no 

 property, nor safety for their persons, but at the will of the 

 chief to whom they respectively belong. 



' The language of the Friendly Islands has the greatest 

 affinity imaginable to that of New Zealand, of Wateeoo, and 

 Mangeea ; and, consequently, to that of Otaheite and the 

 Society Islands. 



" Nothing material occurred for some time after we left 

 the Friendly Islands. In the morning of the 8th of August, 

 land was seen nine or ten leagues distant. As we ap- 



