ping him in red cloth, Kaireekeea, accompanied by
twelve priests, made an offering of a pig with the usual solemnities.
The pig was then strangled, and a fire being kindled, it was thrown
into the embers, and after the hair was singed off, it was again
presented, with a repetition of the chanting in the manner described.
The dead pig was then held for a short time under the captain's
nose, after which it was laid, with a cocoa-nut, at his feet, and the
performers sat down. The _ava_ was then brewed, and handed round; a
fat hog, ready dressed, was brought in, and we were fed as before.

During the rest of the time we remained in the bay, whenever Captain
Cook came on shore, he was attended by one of these priests, who went
before him, giving notice that the _Orono_ had landed, and ordering
the people to prostrate themselves. The same person, also, constantly
accompanied him on the water, standing in the bow of the boat, with a
wand in his hand, and giving notice of his approach to the natives who
were in canoes, on which they immediately left off paddling, and lay
down on their faces till he had passed. Whenever he stopped at the
observatory, Kaireekeea and his brethren immediately made their
appearance with hogs, cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, &c. and presented them
with the usual solemnities. It was on these occasions that some of
the inferior chiefs frequently requested to be permitted to make an
offering to the _Orono_. When this was granted, they presented the
hog themselves, generally with evident marks of fear in their
countenances, whilst Kaireekeea and the priests chanted their
accustomed hymns.

The civilities of this society were not, however, confined to mere
ceremony and parade. Our party on shore received from them, every day,
a constant supply of hogs and vegetables, more than sufficient for our
subsistence; and several canoes, loaded with provisions, were sent to
the ships with the same punctuality. No return was ever demanded, or
even hinted at in the most distant manner. Their presents were made
with a regularity, more like the discharge of a religious duty, than
the effect of mere liberality; and when we enquired at whose charge
all this munificence was displayed, we were told, it was at the
expence of a great man called Kaoo, the chief of the priests, and
grandfather to Kaireekeea, who was at that time absent attending the
king of the island.

As every thing relating to the character and behaviour of thi