OT AHEITE. 
effering to the altar, he always uncovers his body to the 
waift, and his looks and attitude are fuch as exprefs a cor- 
eipoadiig difpofition of mind, It did not appear that 
thefe people were guilty of idolatry; at leaft they do not 
worfhip any thing that is the work of their hands, nor any 
Although they cannot be faid 
ng, baron, vaffal, and villain “OF the firft order there are 
two in this ifland, one being the fovereign of each of the pe- 
ninfulas of which it confifts, and he is treated with great 
refpect by all ranks. 
one or more of the diftri€ts into which each peninfula is 
divided, and of thefe there may be about 100 in the whole 
ifland. They parcel out their Oho to thofe of the next 
clafs, who cultivate, each his part, which he holds under the 
baron. Thofe of the loweft clafs refemble the villains in 
feudal governments ; they do all the laborious work, they 
cultivate the land under thofe of the third clafs, they fetch 
wood and water, drefs the victuals, and catch the fifth, If 
ia i to inbess its proportion of foldiers for the common 
defence. mber furnifhed by all the diftri€ts amounted 
heavy wood. 
obftinacy, and to give no alae 
fuch a rude government, cann ean 
imperfeétly ; ; and indeed, cote the faality ans which 
and paffion are gratitiec A there can be little 
oppofition of perch and of aia re 
is nothing like money, and this arcuntane: eacude ta any 
Adultery, however, i is fometimes committed, as weil 
Adultery, in the heat of refentment, is fometimes 
rPreimec 
The tides about thefe iflands are, perhaps, as inconfiderable 
outh er fouth- by -weft 
moon, makes high water in the ba Matavai, at Ota- 
heite ; but the water very feldom nifes pipeuli ually above 
ten or twelve inches.”’ 
The variation of the compafs is a 46'E. On captain 
was hofpitably re- 
U he had fome proper 
been difpoffeffed by the people of Bolabcla, 
very good underftanding, quick parts, and honeft 
ples; his behaviour was {uch as to render him acceptable to 
the beft company, and his pride led him to avoid the are 
of perfons of inferior rank. His paflions were o a 
kind with thofe of ale young men, but he had ie en 
to reftrain the a ona of them dn an improper excels. 
During his ft:y in England he was introduced to his majefty, 
for whom he cdg fentiments of refpe& and gratitude ; 
he was carefled by many of the pencil nobility, and did 
nothing to forfeit the Mea of any one of them; but his 
principal patrons were the earl of Sandwich, fir Jofeph 
Banks, and Dr. Solander. 
midft of amufements durin 
tion as the time of his return approac a He embarked 
with Capt. Cook in the Refolution, when fhe was fitted out 
for another voyage, loaded with prefents el his feveral 
friends, and full of gratitude for the kind reception he had 
and carried off by the fhipping which had touched there of 
late hia and partly to the frequent wars between the two 
kingdom 
Capt. Cook took pains to afcertain whether, among the 
religious cuftoms of the natives, human facrifices were not 
contidered as neceflary. He learnt upon the whole, that 
men for certain crimes were cua peey to ‘i facrificed to 
the gods, provided that they had no y 
redeem themfelves. i he was wee | that they 
offer human facrifices to the Supreme Being. From Cook’s 
information we learn, that the women of Otaheite, and of 
have been calumniated y thofe who re- 
d in the courfe of eight months, and that 
hogs were fo plentiful as to afford an ample fupply. The 
number of war canoes raifed and equipped by the whole 
ifland, amounts to 1720, manned by 68,000 able eek al. 
lowing 40 to each canoe, and as thefe cannot amou 
above one-third part of the number of both fexes, children 
included, the whole ifland cannot contain lefs than 204,000 
inhabitants. If thisnumber be not over-rated, we may infer 
from it the richnefs and fertility of the ifland, not 40 leagues 
in circuit, which enable it to fupport fuch a number of in- 
habitants. 
The ifland of Otaheite made formerly but one kingdom ; 
it is not known how long it has been divided. The kings of 
Tiarrabou are a branch of the family of thofe of Opoureonu; 
at prefent the two are nearly related, and Capt. Cook thinks, 
that the former is, in fome mea afure, dependent on the latter. 
Otoo, who was king in 1774, is ftyled ‘* Euree de hia”’ 
of the whole ifland, and our ea were informed, that 
A este the king of pain muft uncover beiore 
him, in the fame manner as the meaneft of his fubjeéts. 
Thofe men who are the principal pelea about the king, 
and form his eae generally, if not always, his rela- 
ions. But t e eftablifhment be kingly, there was 
very little an ie or his court, by which a ftranger 
could diftinguifh the king from the fubje&t. In his drefs 
there is no pomp ; and he fubmits to the labour of paddling 
his canoe in common with others that are employed for this 
purpofe. All have free accefs to him, and converfe with 
him without ceremony ; and it is obferved, that the _ 
of the 1fland are more loved than feared, and hence it m 
be concluded, that the government is mild and eueee 
It 
