subsisted ever since. A council was now held, at which the Captain was present; and after a noisy debate among the chiefs, the party for war prevailed. The Captain was urged to assist in the war, but refused, on the ground that the people of Eimeo had never offended him. He was desirous to bring about an accommodation between the contending parties, and afterwards spoke to the King's father on the subject, but found him bent on prosecuting the war.
Towha, the great naval commander of 1774, who was not at the council, was still more resolute. Early on monday morning, September 1st, he sent word to Otoo, that he had killed a man to be offered in sacrifice to the Eatooa, viz. to Oro, the the god of war, at the great morai at Attahooroo. The King's presence being necessary at the offering of a human sacrifice, he set out immediately, with the Captain, in his boat; accompanied by Potatou, and Messrs. Anderson and Webber; Omai following in a canoe. At a small island in their way, they met with Towha and his retinue; who gave Otoo a small tuft of red feathers, and put on board a lean dog for sacrifice, and a priest. On arriving at Attahooroo, Otoo desired that the seamen should remain in the boat, and that the gentlemen should take off their hats at the morai. The human victim, partly wrapped up in cocoa leaves and small branches, was in a small canoe on the beach, with two priests and their attendants; while other priests and their attendants were at the morai. Otoo having placed himself about 20 or 30 paces from the priests, one of the attendants laid a young plantain tree before him, and another touched his feet with a tuft of red feathers. A
