■Mise; Subj. CXXXIIL ' Fol fi. m, ^ 



the: MORÀi, or :-ßmTriNG ,: "- place;- of thj 



,.N.ÜKAHIWAH IN: THE SOUTH- —SEA* 



In the South - sea is to be found a group 

 of isles , first discovered in 1595 and known 

 under the name of isles of Marquesa or Men- 

 doza. Amongst the northern ones is also 

 situated the isle oî Nukakiivah, with which 

 we more nearly became acquainted by means 

 of the last voyage round the world , under- 

 taken by the Russians for discovery's sake, 

 under the guidance of the Captain of Kru- 

 sensterm The^ inhabitants of this island are 

 well- shaped, healthy, and of a vigorous 

 constitution; their carnation resembles that 

 of the Europeans. They adorn the whole 

 body with pricked figures, which they rub 

 into the flesh with a dark -blue earth, whence 

 they never vanish. These islanders of the 

 South - sea are not in the least of a sweet 

 temper; on the contrary they are malicious 



and vindictive in such a manner that they 

 devour their captivated enemies. Except à 

 small scarf, they are stark -naked. Their 

 habitations are only cottages composed of 

 bamboo . reed. After many ceremonies they 

 commit the dead to their burying - place*, 

 or Morals, whereof every family has a par- 

 ticular one. The Russians, who circumna- 

 vigated the world, - obtained the permission 

 of visiting such a Morai, the image of which 

 we view in the annexed table. This Mo rai 

 was situated in a romantic region, on à hill; 

 in a coffin was exposed a corpse. Outwardly 

 stood some deformed idols carved in wood; 

 close to these they beheld pillars, consisting 

 of cocoa -leaves , and environed by stuffs of 

 white cotton. The whole referred to religiou* 

 customs. 



