TOMB OF A CELEBRATED PRIEST, 129 
the side of a canoe, under the shade of a fine- 
spreading hibiscus , and begged a little water of 
the villagers. We had not remained many 
minutes, before we were surrounded by about one 
hundred and fifty people. After explaining to 
them in few words our feelings on meeting them, 
we asked them if they would like to hear what we 
had to say to them. They replied, Ae, (yes,) and 
sat down immediately. We sung a hymn and 
prayed, and I addressed them for about half an 
hour on the first principles of Christianity. They 
all appeared gratified, said they were naau po , 
(dark-hearted,) and should be glad to be instructed 
in all these things, if any body would teach them. 
We now travelled on to Hokukano, where we 
passed a pahu tabu , (sacred enclosure,) which the 
natives told us was built by Taraiopu,* king of the 
island at the time it was discovered by Captain 
Cook. A little further on we examined a buoa 
(tomb) of a celebrated priest. It was composed of 
loose stones, neatly laid, about eight feet square 
and five high. In the centre was a small mound 
of earth, higher than the walls; over this a house 
had formerly been erected, but it was now fallen 
to decay; around it were long poles, stuck in the 
earth, about three or four inches apart, and united 
together at the top. We asked why the grave 
was enclosed with those tall sticks ? Some said 
it was a custom so to inter persons of conse¬ 
quence ; others said it was to prevent the spirit 
from coming out. A mode of interment corre¬ 
sponding with this, appears to prevail among some 
of the tribes inhabiting the north-west coast of the 
American continent. On the top of a high moun¬ 
tain, in the neighbourhood, stood the remains of 
* Terreeoboo in Cook’s Voyages. 
K 
IV. 
