THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
them when combined with material vehicles. Thus, if 1777. 
fouls, who were formerly enemies, fhould meet, they have i December ' 
many conflicts; though, it fhould feem, to no purpofe, as 
they are accounted invulnerable in this invifible hate. There 
is a fimilar reafoning with regard to the meeting of mail 
and wife. If the hufband dies firft, the foul of his wife is 
known to him on its arrival in the land of fpirits. They 
refume their former acquaintance, in a fpacious houfe, 
called Tourooa , where the fouls of the deceafed alfemble to 
recreate themfelves with the Gods. She then retires with 
him to his feparate habitation, where they remain for ever, 
and have an offspring; which, however, is entirely fpiri- 
tual; as they are neither married, nor are their embraces 
fuppofed to be the fame as with corporeal beings. 
Some of their notions about the Deity, are extravagantly 
abfurd. They believe, that he is fubjedi to the power of 
thofe very fpirits to whom he has given exiftence; and that, 
in their turn, they frequently eat or devour him, though he 
poffefs the power of re-creating himfelf. They, doubtlefs, 
ufe this mode of expreffion, as they feem incapable of con- 
verfing about immaterial things, without conflantly refer¬ 
ring to material objects to convey their meaning. And in 
this manner they continue the account, by faying, that, in 
the tour00a, the Deity inquires, if they intend, or not, to de- 
ftroy him ? And that he is not able to alter their determination. 
This is known to the inhabitants on earth, as well as to the 
fpirits; for when the moon is in its wane, it is faid, that 
they are then devouring their Eatooa ; and that, as it in- 
creafes, he is renewing himfelf. And to this accident, not 
only the inferior, but the moil: eminent Gods are liable. 
They alfo believe, that there are other places for the re¬ 
ception of fouls at death. Thus, thofe who are drowned iii 
the 
