a small instrument made of bone, cut into short teeth; and the indeptures are afterwards filled with a dark blue mixture, prepared of an oily nut and water. This operation, which is usually undergone about the age of twelve, is extended to different parts of the body, and the consequent pain is endured with singular resolution, because these marks are peculiarly deemed honourable.

This country is stored with plenty for the food and comfort of man. Both animal and vegetable food loads the tables of the natives. The vegetable chiefly consists of plantains, cocoa nuts, breadfruit, yams, and some others that have been introduced by Europeans. And as the soil is not only qualified to produce the vegetables of England, but also to rear them in great perfection, there is reason to hope that the kitchen garden will soon increase in its productions.

The animal food of the natives is very plentiful. Hogs are there in abundance, and their number is greatly increasing. The fowls common to this country load the table, and even dogs are highly relished. Hogs, fowls, and turtle, seem however to be considered as dainties, and are chiefly found on the tables of persons in the higher ranks of life.

Their cookery consists chiefly in baking, the mode of which deserves particular notice. When the bread-fruit is ripe, they make a large oven, and the chief summons all his dependents to bring a certain quantity of bread fruit, against an appointed day to his house. They are next sent to the hills, and every man brings a burden of wood; they then dig a hole eight or nine feet deep, paving it in the bottom, and building it round with large pebbles, this done, they fill the hole with

wood, and set it on fire, and when it is burnt, and the stones thoroughly consumed, they spread the embers on the bottom of the pit with long poles, and strew leaves at the bottom. Then the oven is thatched as quickly as possible with grass and leaves, and the earth which was dug out cast over the whole. After some days, it is fit for use, and, making an opening, they take it out as it is wanted; they use little else during the time it lasts.

The delight they have in this food has induced them to contrive means to preserve it, so that it may be used cold: this is done by making it into balls, and rolling it up in plantain leaves. To such a perfection have they already arrived in this, that they will preserve it for several weeks.

Their drink is generally confined to water or the milk of cocoa nut. There is a kind of juice however called the Kava, of which their chiefs and more opulent people drink: and the natives have sometimes been known to drink English liquors, until they have been inebriated: but upon feeling its effects, they have carefully avoided repeating the same a second time.

The inhabitants of these islands begin their meals with the ceremony of washing the mouth, and some of them with an act of devotion: after this, they eat a handful of bread-fruit and fish, dipt in salt water alternately, until the whole is consumed; they also take a sip of salt water between every morsel. This dish is succeeded among the chiefs by a second course of plantains' or apples, which are always peeled. After this, a soft fluid of paste is prepared from the breadfruit, which they drink out of cocoa nut shells,

and this concludes their meal. Having thus refreshed themselves, they again wash their hands and their mouth. Mr. Banks says, these people eat an astonishing quantity of food at a meal, for he saw one of them devour three fish of the size of a small carp, four bread-fruits as large as a common melon, thirteen plantains seven inches long, and about half as large round; to all which he added a quart of paste, by way of drink. It is singular, however, that they are capable of enduring hunger to a great degree; and notwithstanding their voracious disposition, they will voluntarily suffer want, rather than not afford plenty to a stranger. This fact affords an indisputable proof of the hospitality of their dispositions.

Although fond of society, they are quite averse to any conversation during the time of meals; and indeed they are so rigid in the observance of this, that even brothers and sisters have separate baskets of provision, and generally sit at the distance of some yards, with their backs to each other, when they eat, and will not exchange a single word during the whole time. The middleaged, who occupy the superior ranks of life, usually go to sleep after dinner; but those who are more advanced in life seldom or never take that indulgence.

The horrible custom of human sacrifices is one of these uncommon facts, for the belief of which the mind requires the strongest evidence; therefore we shall accurately follow the narration given by Captain Cook, who, in order to obtain the strongest certainty, was present at one of the melancholy solemnities. Having obtained leave of the king of the island, he set forward with two

other gentlemen in a canoe in which was placed a half-starved dog, and two or three red feathers tied up in a tuft. A priest also went along with them, who was to assist in the solemnities, On their arrival at the moraí, or burying-ground, the sailors were ordered to remain in the boat, and the captain and his companions were requested to uncover their heads. Several men and some boys went along with them, but no women were present.

They found four priests with their assistants waiting, and on their arrival, the ceremonies commenced. The dead body was in a small canoe that lay on the beach, fronting the morai, Two priests with several of their attendants sat by the canoe, and the rest at the morai. The king of the island, with Captain Cook, and this companions stopped at the distance of thirty paces from the priests; and the crowd of spectators were placed at a greater distance.

After some time, one of the assistants of the priests approached with a young plantain branch, and laid it before the king, and another ap proached, bearing a small tuft of red feathers, twisted on some fibres of the cocoa-nut husk, with which he touched one of his majesty's feet, and afterwards retired with it to his companions. One of the priests at the morai now began a long prayer, and at particular intervals, sent down young plantain trees, which were placed upon the sacrifice. During the prayer, one of the natives stood by the priest, holding in his hands two bundles, in which were the royal ensigns, and the ark of the Deity. The prayer being ended, the priests at the morai, and their assistants, went off carrying the two bundles, and placed themselves by the two priests who were

upon the beach. Here prayers were renewed, and the young plantain trees were taken off the dead body. The sacrifice was then wrapped up in cocoa-leaves and small branches, taken out of the canoe, and laid upon the beach. The priests surrounded the victim, some sitting, others standing, and one or more of them repeating sentences for about ten minutes. The body was next stripped of the leaves and branches, and placed parallel with the sea shore. Then one of the priests, standing at the feet of the victim, uttered a long prayer, in which he was occasionally joined by others, each of whom held a tuft of red feathers in his hand. During the progress of this part of the service, some hairs were pulled off the head of the intended sacrifice, and the left eye taken out: these were wrapped up in a green leaf and presented to the king; but instead of touching them, he gave the bearer a tuft of red feathers, which together with the hair, and the éye, were taken to the priests. Not long after, the king sent another tuft of feathers, in the course of the last ceremony, and on a king'sfisher's making a noise, he turned to the captain, saying, "That is the Eatooa," or Deity; and seemed to consider this as a favourable omen.

The body was next carried a little way, and laid under a tree, near which were fixed three thin pieces of wood, neatly carved. Some bundles of cloth were then placed on a part of the mo rai, and the tuft of red feathers laid at the feet of the sacrifice, round which the priests stood. The chief priest spoke for about a quarter of an hour, with different tones and gestures, appearing sometimes to expostulate with the dead, at other times asking him questions, and then making various demands.

He then prayed about half an