346 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
of their sacrificing was the frequent immola¬ 
tion of human victims. These, in the technical 
language of the priests, were called fish. They 
were offered in seasons of war, at great national 
festivals, during the illness of their rulers, and on 
the erection of their temples. I have been inform¬ 
ed by several of the inhabitants of Maeva, that the 
foundation of some of the buildings, for the abode 
of their gods, was actually laid in human sacri¬ 
fices ; that at least the central pillar, supporting 
the roof of one of the sacred houses at Maeva, 
was planted upon the body of a man, who had 
Altar , and Offerings . 
been offered as a victim to the sanguinary deity 
afterwards to be deposited there. The unhappy 
wretches selected were either captives taken in 
war, or individuals who had rendered themselves 
obnoxious to the chiefs or the priests. When they 
were wanted, a stone was, at the request of the 
priest, sent by the king to the chief of the district 
from which the victims were required. If the 
stone was received, it was an indication of an 
intention to comply with the requisition. It is a 
singular fact, that the cruelty of the practice 
extended not only to individuals, but to families 
