112 POLYNESTAif RESEARCHES. 
the burning pile, he laid them down on the ground. 
They were small carved wooden images, rude imi¬ 
tations of the human figure; or shapeless logs of 
wood, covered with finely braided and curiously 
wrought cinet of cocoa-nut fibres, and ornamented 
with red feathers. The representations in the pre¬ 
ceding page will convey some idea of the shape and 
appearance of the former kind. 
Patii tore off the sacred cloth in which they were 
enveloped, to be safe from the gaze of vulgar eyes; 
stripped them of their ornaments, which he cast 
into the fire ; and then one by one threw the idols 
themselves into the crackling flames—sometimes 
pronouncing the name and pedigree of the idol, 
and expressing his own regret at having worshipped 
it—at others, calling upon the spectators to behold 
their inability even to help themselves. Thus were 
the idols which Patii, who was a powerful priest in 
Eimeo, had worshipped, publicly destroyed. The 
flames became extinct, and the sun cast his last 
beams, as he sunk behind the western wave, upon 
the expiring embers of that fire, which had already 
mingled with the earth upon which it had been 
kindled, the ashes of some of the once obeyed 
and dreaded idols of Eimeo. 
Patii on this occasion was not prompted by a 
spirit of daring bravado, but by the conviction of 
truth, deeply impressed upon his heart, and a 
desire to undeceive his deluded countrymen ; pro¬ 
bably considering, that as his conduct and instruc¬ 
tion had heretofore done much to extend and pro¬ 
pagate the influence of idolatry, so his thus pub¬ 
licly abandoning it, and exposing himself to all 
the consequences of their dreaded ire, would most 
effectually weaken their confidence in the gods, 
and lead them to desire instruction concerning 
