POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
271 
From the gods the priests pretended to have received 
the knowledge of the healing art^ and to them a part of 
the fee of the physician was considered to belong. No 
animal or mineral substances were admitted into their 
pharmacopoeia I vegetable substances alone were used, 
and these simply pulverized, infused, heated on the 
fire, or with red-hot stones, and often fermented. 
Many of their applications, however, were very powerful, 
especially a species of gourd, or wild cucumber. A 
preparation, in which the milk of the pulp of the cocoa- 
nut was a principal ingredient, was sometimes followed 
by almost instant death. Mr. Barlf once took this pre¬ 
paration, at the earnest recommendation of the people; 
but it nearly cost him his life, although he had not drank 
more than half the quantity prepared. 
Frequently, when some medicines were about to be 
administered, the friends and relatives of the patient were 
sent for, that they might be at hand, should the effect be 
unfavourable. They often expected it would either save 
or destroy the patient. A number of ceremonies were 
connected with every remedy applied; and much greater 
dependence was placed on the efficacy of the prayers, 
than on the effect of the medicine. 
. When a person was taken ill, the priest or physician 
was sent for; as soon as he arrived, a young plantain-tree, 
procured by some members of the family, was handed to 
him, as an offering to the god; a present of cloth was 
also furnished, as his own fee. He began by calling upon 
the name of his god, beseeching him to abate his anger 
towards the sufferer, to say what would propitiate him, 
or what applications would afford relief. Sometimes 
remedies were applied at the same time, or the relatives 
sent to fetch certain herbs or roots, but the priest usually 
