THIRD VOYAGE 369 



which we could only distinguish the word Orono,* The 

 crowd which had been collected on the shore retired at 

 our approach, and not a person was to be seen except a 

 few lying prostrate on the ground, near the huts of the 

 adjoining village. 



" Before I proceed to relate the adoration that was paid 

 to Captain Cook, and the peculiar ceremonies with which 

 he was received on this fatal island, it will be necessary 

 to describe a morai, or burying-place, situated at the south 

 side of the beach at Kakooa. It was a square solid pile of 

 stones, about forty yards long, twenty broad, and fourteen in 

 height. The top was flat and well paved, and surrounded 

 by a wooden rail, on which were fixed the skulls of the 

 captives sacrificed on the death of their chiefs. In the 

 centre of the area stood a ruinous old building of wood, 

 connected with the rail on each side by a stone wall, which 

 divided the whole space into two parts. On the side next 

 the country were five poles, upwards of twenty feet high, 

 supporting an irregular kind of scaffold ; on the opposite 

 side, toward the sea, stood two small houses, with a covered 

 communication. 



" We were conducted by Koah to the top of this pile, 

 by an easy ascent. At the entrance we saw two large 

 wooden images, with features violently distorted, and a 

 long piece of carved wood, of a conical form inverted, 

 rising from the top of their heads ; the rest was without 

 form, and wrapped round with red cloth. We were here 

 met by a tall young man with a long beard, who presented 

 Captain Cook to the images ; and after chanting a kind 

 of hymn, in which he was joined by Koah, they led us to 

 that end of the morai where the five poles were fixed. At 

 the foot of them were twelve images, ranged in a semi- 

 circular form, and before the middle figure stood a high 

 stand or table, on which lay a putrid hog, and under it 

 pieces of sugar-cane, cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, plantains, and 

 sweet potatoes. Koah having placed the Captain under 

 this stand, took down the hog, and held it toward him ; 

 and after having a second time addressed him in a long 

 speech, pronounced with much vehemence and rapidity, 

 he let it fall on the ground, and led him to the scaffolding, 

 which they began to climb together, not without great 

 risk of falling. At this time we saw, coming in solemn 

 procession, at the entrance of the top of the morai, ten 

 men carrying a live hog, and a large piece of red cloth. 

 Being advanced a few paces, they stopped, and prostrated 



* Captain Cook generally went by this name amongst the natives 

 of Owhyhee ; but we could never learn its precise meaning, though 

 it was certainly a title of religious veneration. 



