d the
misshapen figures of several gigantic idols. In front of this, and
between four rude tumuli of broken coral, was a low platform, supported
by stakes, and resembling the altars used for human sacrifices, during
the ancient reign of heathenism in Tahiti. Beneath this platform, or
altar, was a pile of human skulls; and suspended from the trees, were
the shells of enormous turtles, and the skeletons of fishes. A
hideous-looking old man, whom I supposed to be the priest, sat in the
door of the small building, within the inclosure, and looking intently
at me, made strange faces as we passed by. His skin was sallow, and
singularly speckled, probably from some cutaneous disease; he had no
eyebrows, and his eyes were small and glittering like those of a snake;
in his countenance there was a mingled expression of cunning and cruelty
that made me shudder. When we were nearest to him in passing, he struck
himself violently on the breast, and cried out in a strong but dissonant
voice, pointing with his long, skeleton fingers, towards the young
chief:--`Mowno, son of Maloa, rob not the servant of Oro of a priest's
share!' so at least, I understood the words which he uttered; but the
natives hurried on, without seeming to pay any attention to him."

"That would have frightened me mortally," interrupted Johnny. "I should
have thought that they were going to make a cannibal feast of me, and
that the wicked old priest was speaking for his share."

"Well, I confess that some notion of the sort flashed across my mind for
a moment. The dark grove, the great idolatrous looking marae, with its
heathen altar, and monstrous images; the pile of skulls; the hideous old
man and his strange words; all tended to suggest vague but startling
suspicions. But another glance at the open and friendly countenances of
our guides reassured me. In answer to a question in regard to the
building which we had just passed, Mowno said, with a natural and
indifferent air, that it was the house of Oro, where a great solemnity
was soon to be celebrated; and although I did not allude to the skulls,
he added that they were a part of the remains of the priests, who had
been buried within the inclosure, and which were now, in accordance with
an established custom, placed beneath the altar. The dark wood was
bounded by a charming valley, with a brook running through it, and I was
glad to escape from its gloomy shade, into the cheerful light. We
forded th