The Natural History of Man Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 Excerpt: ... as usual, unawares, by a blow from a stone, but saw' as it was prepared for offering, and was present at the curious ceremony which panied the sacrifice. It appeared that Towha, the chief of his district, intended to make war agii island of Eimeo, and sent a message to his friend and relative Otoo that he had a a man, and wished for Otoo's presence when the body was offered at the great i Attahooroo. Having previously doubted whether the usually mild and gentle ' would really offer human sacrifices, Captain Cook asked permission to accompaa and accordingly went with him to the marae. The party accordingly embarked i canoes, taking with them a miserable, half-starved dog, which was to form part sacrifice. When they arrived at the landing-place, they found the body of the slain man there, lying in a canoe which was half in and half out of the water, just in front marae. Otoo, his visitors, and the chiefs halted about ten yards from the body, w rest of the people looked on from a distance. The ceremonies now began. One of the priests' attendants brought a younj tain-tree, and laid it down before Otoo. Another approached with a small tuft feathers, twisted on some fibres of the cocoa-nut husk, with which he touched one king's feet, and then retired with it to his companions. One of the priests, seated at the marae, facing those that were upon the bea began a long prayer; and, at certain times, sent down young plantain-trees, whic laid upon the sacrifice. During this prayer a man, who stood by the officiating held in his hand two bundles, seemingly of cloth. In one of them, as we aft- found, was the royal maro; and the other, if I may be allowed the expressio the ark of the Eatooa (i.e. the Atua, or god). As soon as the prayer was endf priests ...