H 



U 



M 



A 



N 



S 



P 



E 



C 



I 



E 



S. 



553 



my to be the lawful or mofl reafonable method for propagating religion. 

 mankind. 



-•w ^ 



The inhabitants of the South Sea have certainly fome notions of 

 a future flate ; but I mufl confefs, I am ■ at a lofs how to conciliate 

 their ideas on that head. They told us that the being, which had 

 fcnfations and thoughts, did not decay with the body but was well 



f IV our a J 



d 



fting 



old hab 



the body and the 



as we were 



remains expofed on an elevated ftage, or even near the bones 



■ 

 r 



when buried, or the head preferved in a little cheft : it is for this 

 being that they expofe various fruits and meat near the burying 

 place J and the little wooden images or Telhees are, 

 told, the receptacles of the invifible Teeheesy or what we would call 

 fouls, according to our way of thiijking. And notv/ithflanding 

 this moft pofitive affertion^ they told us almofl in the fame breath, 

 that after their death the departed met in the fun, and attended 

 Mabutve, a.nd feafted there with this deity upon bread-fruit, and 

 the meat of hogs or dogs, which needs no dreffing; and fome 

 even ventured to fay that they were to have a conftant fucceffion of 



4 



liquor prepared Uom awa (Piper methyjiicum J , This ftate they 



\ 



call the meeting or aifembly of the h 



or 



fky (Tt 



f erai) 



* 



1 



However the people of rank only, have hopes of being 



4 



B 



received 



* The word Tourooa figmfies the meeting or affembly of the ftates in Taheiu;, wherein 

 the king, the chiefs of provinces, prlefts, inferior chiefs, and manahounes have a right to 

 fit, but the hoas^ or king's attendants, though prefent, muft itand. 



^ 



