By this time, the pig that had been killed, was cleaned, and the entrails taken out.  These happened to have a considerable share of those convulsive motions, which often appear, in different parts, after an animal is killed; and this was considered by the spectators as a very favourable omen to the expedition on account of which the sacrifices had been offered.  After being exposed for some time, that those who chose might examine their appearances, the entrails were carried to the priests, and laid down before them.  While one of their number prayed, another inspected the entrails more narrowly, and kept turning them gently with a stick.  When they had been sufficiently examined, they were thrown into the fire, and left to consume.  The sacrificed pig and its liver, &c. were now put upon the whatta, where the dog had been deposited the day before; and then all the feathers, except the ostrich plume, were enclosed with the Eatooa in the ark, and the solemnity finally closed.

Four double canoes lay upon the beach, before the place of sacrifice, all the morning.  On the fore part of each of these was fixed a small platform, covered with palm-leaves, tied in mysterious knots; and this also is called a morai.  Some cocoa-nuts, plantains, pieces of bread-fruit, fish, and other things, lay upon each of these naval morais.  We were told that they belonged to the Eatooa, and that they were to attend the fleet designed to go against Eimeo.

The unhappy victim, offered to the object of their worship upon this occasion, seemed to be a middle-aged man; and, as we were told, was a toutou, that is, one of the lowest class of the people.  But, after all my enquiries, I could not learn that he had been pitched upon on account of any particular crime committed by him meriting death.  It is certain, however, that they generally make choice of such guilty persons for their sacrifices, or else of common, low fellows who stroll about, from place to place, and from island to island, without having any fixed abode, or any visible way of getting an honest livelihood; of which description of men, enough are to be met with at these islands.  Having had an opportunity of examining the appearance of the body of the poor sufferer now offered up, I could observe, that it was bloody about the head and face, and a good deal bruised upon the right temple, which marked the manner of his being killed.  And we were told, that he had been privately knocked on the head with a stone.

Those who are devoted to suffer, in order to perform this bloody act of worship, are never apprised of their fate, till the blow is given that puts an end to their existence.  Whenever any one of the great chiefs thinks a human sacrifice necessary, on any particular emergency, he pitches upon the victim.  Some of his trusty servants are then sent, who fall upon him suddenly, and put him to death with a club, or by stoning him.  The king is next acquainted with