On wednesday, the 24th, Towha and Potatow, with eight large canoes, landed near the morai; and many plantain trees were presented to Otoo, on the part of different chiefs. The chief priest then brought out the royal maro and the ark of Oro, which were placed at the head of the grave, where a human victim had been buried; while three priests took their station at the foot of the grave. The priests then pronounced various sentences, and sung a melancholy ditty; and when they had sung and prayed about an hour, the chief priest, after a short prayer, uncovered the maro; and Otoo, rising up, wrapped it about him, holding also in his hand a cap of feathers, in which the red feathers of the tail of the tropic bird were most conspicuous. He stood facing the three priests, who continued praying for about ten minutes; when a man, starting from the crowd, said something which ended with the word heiva! and the crowd thrice echoed back to him, Earee! The company then moved to the opposite side of the morai, where the same ceremony was performed, ending with three cheers. The maro was now wrapped up and laid aside, after Otoo had stuck in it a small piece of red feathers, given him by one of the priests.
The company next retired to a large building, adjoining the morai; and when they had seated themselves in order, several speeches were delivered, which, according to Omai, were all pacific. A man afterwards rose up, with a sling round his waist, and a large stone on his shoulder; and after parading nearly a quarter of an hour, and singing some sentences, he threw down the stone; which, with a plantain tree that lay at Otoo's feet, being
