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POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
upright position on the large altar. The priest 
then preferred the claims of the people, and the 
several orders of diviners took their station near 
the victim, to watch the indications of the god’s 
designs, while the men, women, and children of 
the island waited without, to know the result. The 
following were the principal omens. If the hog 
continued for a given period without exhibiting 
any change, it was an indication of continued con¬ 
quest and spoil to the party offering it. If the 
hinder parts of the pig sunk, while the fore-part 
remained stationary, it was regarded as an indi¬ 
cation that the enemy was restrained by the gods, 
and that peace might be concluded; and such 
intimation was invariably attended to. If the 
middle of the back sunk while the fore and hind- 
parts remained stationary, it was an indication 
that neither army should be overcome, but that 
both, after sustaining some loss, should claim the 
victory. If some parts of the surface of the 
animal which had been covered with blood, 
changed colour, while other parts continued red, 
it signified that both armies should alternately 
experience victory and defeat. If the back was 
bent to one side, it indicated that the front rank of 
both armies should be destroyed, but the rear 
escape. If one eye closed, it shewed that the 
opposing chiefs should be conquered, or one of 
them taken. If the hinder parts of the sacrifice 
became enlarged, it indicated that the party offering 
it would be overcome, and consequently predis¬ 
posed them to retreat, or sue for peace. 
In the Sandwich Islands, the king, personating 
the god, uttered the responses of the oracle, from 
his concealment in a frame of wicker-work. In the 
southern islands, the priest usually addressed the 
