THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
37 
Some little time after, four pigs were produced; one of 
which was immediately killed ; and the others were taken ^ 
to a fly, hard by, probably referved for fome future occa- 
fion of facrifice. One of the bundles was now untied ; and 
it was found, as I have before obferved, to contain the 
mar0) with which thefe people inveft their kings; and 
which feems to anfwer, in fome degree, to the European 
enfigns of royalty. It was carefully taken out of the 
cloth, in which it had been wrapped up, and fpread, at 
full length, upon the ground before the j^riefts. It is a 
girdle, about five yards long, and fifteen inches broad; 
and, from its name, feems to be put on in the fame manner 
as is the common maro , or piece of cloth, ufed, by thefe 
people, to wrap round the waifi. It was ornamented with 
red and yellow feathers; but moflly with the latter, taken, 
from a dove found upon the ifland. The one end was bor¬ 
dered with eight pieces, each about the fize and fliape of 
a horfe-fhoe, having their edges fringed with black fea¬ 
thers. The other end was forked, and the points were of 
different lengths. The feathers were in fquare compart¬ 
ments, ranged in two rows, and, otherwife, fo difpofed as 
to produce a pleafing effedt. They had been fir ft pafted or 
fixed upon fome of their own country cloth; and then 
fewed to the upper end of the pendant which Captain 
Wallis had difplayed, and left flying afliore, the firft time, 
that he landed at Matavai. This was what they told us 
and we had no reafon to doubt it, as we could, eafily trace 
the remains of an Englifh pendant. About fix or eight 
inches fquare of the maro was unornamented; there being 
no feathers upon that fpace, except a few that had been 
lent by Waheiadooa, as already mentioned. The priefls 
made along prayer, relative to this part of the ceremony ; 
and, 
1777- 
September. 
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