THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
moral , with their attendants, went and fat down by thofe 
upon the beach, carrying with them the two bundles. Here 
they renewed their prayers; during which the plantain- 
trees were taken, one by one, at different times, from off 
the facrifice ; which was partly wrapped up in cocoa leaves 
and fmall branches. It was now taken out of the canoe, 
and laid upon the beach, with the feet to the fea. The 
priefts placed themfelves around it, fome fitting and others 
handing; and one, or more of them, repeated fentences for 
about ten minutes. The dead body was now uncovered, 
by removing the leaves and branches, and laid in a pa¬ 
rallel direction with the fea-fhore. One of the priefts then 
handing at the feet of it, pronounced a long prayer, in 
which he was, at times, joined by the others ; each holding 
in his hand a tuft of red feathers. In the courfe of this 
prayer, fome hair was pulled off the head of the facrifice, 
and the left eye taken out; both which were prefented 
to Otoo, wrapped up in a green leaf. He did not, however, 
touch it; but gave, to the man who prefented it, the tuft 
of feathers, which he had received from Towha. This, 
with the hair and eye, was carried back to the priefts. 
Soon after, Otoo fent to them another piece of feathers, 
which he had given me in the morning to keep in my 
pocket. During fome part of this laft ceremony, a king- 
fifher making a noife in the trees, Otoo turned to me, fay¬ 
ing, u That is the Eatooa and feemed to look upon it to 
be a good omen. 
The body was then carried a little way, with its head 
toward the morale and laid under a tree; near which were 
fixed three broad thin pieces of wood, differently, but 
rudely, carved. The bundles of cloth were laid on a part 
of the moral ; and the tufts of red feathers were placed at 
Vol. II. f the 
33 
1777. 
September. 
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