THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 71 



together with the choicest inanufactui-es. The sacrifice 

 was frequently called Tara(iliara, signifying entangling 

 from guilt. But animals, fruits and the like were 

 not the only articles presented to their idols, for 

 the most important part of their sacrifices was the frequent 

 immolation of human victims. These were offered in seasons 

 of war, at great national festivals, during the illness of rulers, 

 and when their temples were erected. They imagined that 

 the efficacy of their pra^^ers would be in exact prt)portion to 

 the value of the offerings with which they were accompanied. 

 Their seasons of worship were both stated and occasional, 

 and religious rites Avere connected with almost every event 

 of their lives.* 



The people of the Marquesas Islands had the same 

 ceremonies as the Tahitians, but those of the Carolines were 

 said to have neither temples, idols, or religious worship,! and 

 in Micronesia temples are rare. J 



At the Sandwich Islands, temples were very common, 

 were usually built on hills or near the sea in conspicuous 

 places, were made of loose stones, and were works of great 

 labour. One was two hundred andtwenty-four by one hundred 

 feet, a sacrificial altar was placed near the entrance of the 

 court ; their priests were many, and there was a high priest ; 

 priesthood Avas hereditary and human sacrifices Avere 

 common. § Eighty persons are said to have been sacrificed at 

 one time.ll There is a cord noAv at the missionary rooms at 

 Chicago, Avith Avhich one high priest strangled tAventy-three 

 victims. IT 



(4) Other Forms of Worship and Customs. — Dr. J. Fraser in 

 speaking of the initiation of a young man into the religious 

 rites of the Australians, says that it closes with ivashing and 

 purification, and a dance around and through a fire. 



W. B. Wildy says that the Larrakeyahs and Moolnahs do 

 not practise circumcision, but all the other tribes ot Aus- 

 tralia practise it, and that the custom is purely traditional.** 



* Polynesian Researches, pp. 261-268. 



t Maite Brim's Geog., vol. ii, pp. 399-409. 



X Encyclopcedia Britt., art., "Micronesia." 



§ Jarves' Sandwich Islands, p. 29. 



II Bird's Six Months at the Sa7idvjich Islands, p. 100. 



IT Bartlett's Sketches, p. 41. 



■^* Australasia and the Oceanic Region, p. 116. 



