THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
25 
When we began to fill up the grave, they approached it 
with great reverence, threw in a dead pig, fonie cocoa- 
nuts, and plantains ; and, for three nights afterward, they 
furrounded it, facrificing hogs, and performing their ufual 
ceremonies of hymns and prayers, which continued till 
day-break. 
At the head of the grave, we eredled a poft, and nailed 
upon it a fquare piece of board, on which was infcribed the 
name of the deceafed, his age, and the day of his death. 
This they promifed not to remove; and we have no doubt, 
but that it will be fuffered to remain, as long as the frail 
materials, of which it is made, will permit. 
The fhips being in great want of fuel, the Captain de- 
fired me, on the 2d of February, to treat with the priefts, 
for the purchafe of the rail, that furrounded the top of the 
Moral . I muff confefs, I had, at firft, forne doubt about the 
decency of this propofal, and was apprehendve, that even 
the bare mention of it might be confidered, by them, as a 
piece of fhocking impiety. In this, however, I found my- 
felf miltaken. Not the fmallefl furprize was expreffed at 
the application, and the wood was readily given, even with¬ 
out ftipulating for any thing in return. Whilft the failors 
were taking it away, I obfervea one of them carrying off a 
carved image ; and, on further inquiry, I found, that they 
had conveyed to the boats the whole * femicircle. Though 
this was done in the prefence of the natives, who had not 
Ihewn any mark of refentment at it, but had even affifted 
them in the removal, I thought it proper to fpeak to Kaoo, 
on the fubjeff; who appeared very indifferent about the 
matter, and only delired, that we would reftore the centre 
1779. 
February. 
Tuefday 2. 
* See defcription of the Moral, in the preceding Chapter. 
Vol. Ill, E 
image, 
