In our way we landed upon a little island, which lies off Tettaha, where we found Towha and his retinue.  After some little conversation between the two chiefs, on the subject of the war, Towha addressed himself to me, asking my assistance.  When I excused myself, he seemed angry, thinking it strange, that I, who had always declared myself to be the friend of their island, would not now go and fight against its enemies.  Before we parted, he gave to Otoo two or three red feathers, tied up in a tuft, and a lean half-starved dog was put into a canoe that was to accompany us.  We then embarked again, taking on board a priest who was to assist at the solemnity.

As soon as we landed at Attahooroo, which was about two o’clock in the afternoon, Otoo expressed his desire that the seamen might be ordered to remain in the boat; and that Mr Anderson, Mr Webber, and myself, might take off our hats as soon as we should come to the morai, to which we immediately proceeded, attended by a great many men and some boys, but not one woman.  We found four priests, and their attendants, or assistants, waiting for us.  The dead body, or sacrifice, was in a small canoe that lay on the beach, and partly in the wash of the sea, fronting the morai.  Two of the priests, with some of their attendants, were sitting by the canoe, the others at the morai.  Our company stopped about twenty or thirty paces from the priests.  Here Otoo placed himself; we, and a few others, standing by him, while the bulk of the people remained at a greater distance.

The ceremonies now began.  One of the priest’s attendants brought a young plantain-tree, and laid it down before Otoo.  Another approached with a small tuft of red feathers, twisted on some fibres of the cocoa-nut husk, with which he touched one of the king’s feet, and then retired with it to his companions.  One of the priests, seated at the morai, facing those who were upon the beach, now began a long prayer, and at certain times, sent down young plantain-trees, which were laid upon the sacrifice.  During this prayer, a man, who stood by the officiating priest, held in his hands two bundles, seemingly of cloth.  In one of them, as we afterward found, was the royal maro; and the other, if I may be allowed the expression, was the ark of the Eatooa.  As soon as the prayer was ended, the priests at the morai, with their attendants, went and sat down by those 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 sacrifice, which was partly wrapped up in cocoa leaves and small branches.  It was now taken out of the canoe, and laid upon the beach, with the feet to the sea.  The priests placed themselves around it, some sitting and others standing, and one or more of them repeated sentences for about ten minutes.  The dead body was now uncovered, by removing the leaves and branches,