260 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
toms were observed, and several ceremonies per- 
formed. The mother bathed in the sea immediately 
after a profuse perspiration had been induced, and 
the infant was taken to the water almost as soon as it 
entered the world. It was also taken to the marae, 
where a variety of ceremonies were celebrated. In 
some of the islands, a number of these were attended 
to before its birth. When the mother repaired to 
the temple, the priest, after presenting costly 
and numerous offerings, caught the god in a kind 
of snare or loop, made with human hair, and also 
offered up his prayer that the child might be an 
honour to his family, a benefit to the nation, and 
be more famous than any of his ancestors had been. 
This usage prevailed in the Hervey Islands. A 
number of ceremonies were performed in the 
Society Islands. The child was, soon after its 
birth, invested with the name and office of its 
father, who was henceforward considered its in¬ 
ferior. This, however, during the minority of the 
child, was merely nominal: the father exercised 
all authority, though in the name of the child. The 
children were frequently nursed at the breast till 
they were able to walk, although they were fed 
with other food. 
As soon as the child was able to eat, a basket 
was provided, and its food was kept distinct from 
that of the parent. During the period of infancy, 
the children were seldom clothed, and were gene¬ 
rally laid or carried in a horizontal position. They 
were never confined in bandages, or wrapped in 
tight clothing, but though remarkably plump and 
healthy in appearance, they were generally very 
weak until nearly twelve months old. As soon as 
able to sit up, the child was not, when taken out, 
carried in the arms, so as to rest on the bosom, but 
