CHARACTER OF HAAMANEMANE. 35 
he spoke as if he officiated, in these horrid rites, 
more from necessity than choice. 
He was remarkably active and vigorous, and, 
though far advanced in years and nearly blind, 
indulged, without restraint, in all the degrading 
vices of his country. Moral character, and vir¬ 
tuous conduct, were never considered requisite, 
even in those whose office was most sacred. As a 
priest, he practised every species of extortion and 
cruelty; neither was he less familiar with intrigue, 
nor free from ambition, as a politician. His sup¬ 
posed influence with the gods, his deep skill in 
the mysteries of their worship, and the constant 
dread of his displeasure, which would probably 
have doomed the individual, by whom it was 
incurred, to immolation on the altar of his idol, 
favoured, in no small degree, his assumption and 
exercise of civil power, both in Eimeo and Tahiti. 
A jealousy appeared to exist between him and 
Pomare, the father of Otu, who was king of the 
island; and during the absence of the former, on 
a visit to a neighbouring island, availing himself 
of the offence Pomare’s orator and people had 
given to Otu, he formed a league with the young 
king, to deprive Pomare of all authority in Tahiti. 
Having offered a human victim to his idol, he 
invaded the district of the absent chieftain, and 
brought war to the very doors of the Mission- 
house, in less than seventeen months after the 
departure of the Duff. The attack, as already 
stated, was made at daybreak, in the western 
border of Matavai: four individuals were killed, 
and afterwards offered by the priest to his deity. 
The inhabitants, unable to withstand the young 
king and his ally, abandoned their plantations and 
their dwellings, and fled for their lives. The In- 
d 2 
