PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
179 
upon the sandy shore, and joining in the morning and evening prayers CHAP, 
to the Almighty. Though their sincerity may be questioned, yet it is ^ ^ 
hoped that an impression may be made upon these neophytes, which 
may tend to improve their moral condition. 
Previous to the arrival of the missionary, every one had his pecu- 
liar deity, of which the most common was a piece of wood with a tuft of 
human hair inserted into it ; but that which was deemed most effica- 
cious, when it could be procured, was the thigh bone of an enemy, or 
of a relation recently dead. Into the hollow of this they inserted a 
lock of the same person’s hair, and then suspended the idol to a tree. 
To these symbols they address their prayers as long as they remained 
in favour ; but, like the girl in China, who, when disappointed by her 
lover, pulled down the brazen image and whipped it, these people when 
dissatisfied with their deity, no longer acknowledged his power, and 
substituted some other idol. There were times, however, when they 
feared its anger, and endeavoured to appease it with cocoa-nuts ; but I 
did not hear of any human sacrifices being offered. They appeared to 
entertain the Pythagorean doctrine of the transmigration of the soul, 
and supposed the first vessel which they saw to be the spirit of one of 
their relations lately deceased. The compartments allotted to the dead 
are here tabooed ; and the bodies, first wrapped in mats, are placed 
under ground. As the soul is supposed for a time to frequent these 
places, provision and water are placed near the spot for its use ; and it 
Would be thought unkind, or that some evil would befal the person 
whose business it is to provide them, if these supplies were neglected. 
The manufactures of these people are the same with those of all 
the other islanders, and are only such as nature renders necessary, con- 
sisting of mats, maros, baskets, fishing-tackle, &c. They have no occupa- 
tion beyond the manufacture of these few articles, and providing for 
their daily support. On interrogating the chief how he passed the 
day, lie said he rose early and late ; he then invoked his deity ; some- 
times went to fish or catch turtle; but more generally passed his time 
Under the shade of the cocoa-nut trees : in the evening he ate again, 
and went to sleep. 
The natives of this island, according to information obtained by 
A A 2 
