POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
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near the northern end. It is a beautiful and almost 
regular cone, partially covered with trees and bushes, 
even to its summit, while the shining basaltic or volcanic 
rocks, occasionally projecting through the cypress or 
pine-growing casuarina, add to the novel and agreeable 
diversity which its figure produces. The northern 
shore of the roto^ or lake, of Maeva, was the favourite 
residence of many of the native kings. Here, also, the 
chief who governed the island after the last visit of 
Captain Cook, resided, and erected a house for Mai, or 
Omai, that he might be near him. The shores, and even 
the smooth surface of the lake itself, have been the scene 
of some of the most sanguinary battles that have been 
fought between rival parties on the island, or the people 
of Huahine and those of Raiatea and Borabora. Near 
its margin, on a rising ground, the ruins of one of 
the largest artificial fortifications in the group still 
remain. 
But it is not so distinguished by any of these as by 
the vestiges of the ancient superstition of the island 
which every where abound. Temples to the gods of the 
water were erected on every point of land, and family 
maraes in almost every grove, while the extensive 
national temples of Oro and Tane stood near the 
northern extremity of the lake, where the greater 
number of human sacrifices were offered, where the 
idols were usually kept, and the national religious 
assemblies convened. 
Every object around the lake, and every monument 
of art or labour, in the district of Maeva, bore marks of 
its connexion with their ancient religion. I have often 
visited the ruins of the large national temple of Tane, 
and the site of the house of Oro, and in my intercourse 
