CHAPTER XIII.

FROM PAGE 248 TO PAGE 270.

General view of Polynesian mythology-Ideas relative to the origin c world-Polytheism-Traditionary theogony-Taaroa supreme deityferent orders of gods-Oro, Hiro, &c. gods of the wind-Power of spir raise tempests-Gods of the ocean, &c.-Supposed cause of an ecli Gods of artificers and fishermen-Oramatuas, or demons-Emble Images-Uru, or feathers-Temples-Worship-Prayers-The awake of the gods-Offerings-Sacrifices-Occasional and stated festivals worship-Rau-mata-vehi-raa Maui-fata-Rites for recovery from sickne Offering of first-fruits-The pae atua-The ripening of the year, a relig ceremony-Singular rites attending its close.

CHAPTER XIV.

FROM PAGE 273 TO PAGE 292.

Description of Polynesian idols-Human sacrifices-Anthropophagis Islands in which it prevails-Motives and circumstances under which practised-Tradition of its existence in Sir Charles Sanders's Islandtensive prevalence of sorcery and divination-Views of the natives on subject of Satanic influence-Demons-Imprecations-Modes of incanta -Horrid and fatal effects supposed to result from sorcery-Impotenc enchantment on Europeans-Native remedies for sorcery-Native orack Buaatapena-Means of inspiration-Effects on the priest inspired-Mar of delivering the responses-Circumstances at Rurutu and Huahinetercourse between the priest and the god-Augury by the death of vict -Augury by the stars and clouds-Divination for the detection of theft.

CHAPTER XV.

FROM PAGE 292 TO PAGE 316.

Tahitian prophets-Ancient predictions relative to the arrival of ships-T ditions of the Deluge corresponding with the accounts in sacred and p fane writings-General ideas of the people relative to death and a fut state-Death the consequence of Divine displeasure-State of spirit: Miru, or heaven-Religious ceremonies for ascertaining the causes death-Embalming-The burying of the sins of the departed-Singu religious ceremony-Offerings to the dead-Occupation of the spirits of t deceased-Superstitions of the people-Otohaa, or lamentation-Waili -Outrages committed under paroxysms of grief-Use of sharks' teeth Elegies-The heva-Absurdity and barbarism of the practice.

0

by his Indian guides that U my.

beholding the vast ocean spread out before him in all its majesty, fell on his knees, and rendered thanks to God for having conducted him to so important a discovery. He hastened towards the object he had so

the next mountain, advanced alone to its summit;

labo

POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES.

CHAPTER I.

Historical notice of the discovery of the Pacific-Extent and limits of Polynesia-Voyages of Cook-Discovery of the Georgian and Society Islands Origin of their designation-Number, names, and relative situation of the islands-Key to the pronunciation of native names-Extent and apparent structure of the islands-Beauty of the scenery-First approach to the shore of Matavai-Inland scenery-Description of Eimeo-Coral islandsTetuaroa, the fashionable watering-place of Tahiti-Harbours-Islets on the reefs Soil in the Islands-Climate-Winds-Rains-and Tides.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

THE Pacific, the largest ocean in the world, extending over more than one-third of the surface of our globe, was discovered in the year 1513, by Vasco Nugnez de Balboa, a courageous and enterprising Spaniard, governor of the Spanish colony of Santa Maria, in the Isthmus of Darien.

The desire of finding a more direct communication with the East Indies had prompted Columbus to the daring voyage which conducted him to the borders of the New World. In that immense and unexplored region his followers pursued their career of enterprise, until Balboa, by discovering the great South Sea, accomplished what Columbus, notwithstanding his splendid achievements, had failed to perform. In his march across the isthmus which separates the Atlantic from the Pacific (an enterprise designated by Robertson as the boldest on which the Spaniards had hitherto ventured in the New World), Balboa, having been informed by his Indian guides that he might view the sea from the next mountain, advanced alone to its summit; and, beholding the vast ocean spread out before him in all its majesty, fell on his knees, and rendered thanks to God for having conducted him to so important a discovery. He hastened towards the object he had so labo

riously sought, and, on reaching its margin, plunged up to his middle in its waves, with his sword and buckler, and took possession of it in the name of his sovereign, Ferdinand of Spain.

Seven years after this important event, Magellan, a Portuguese despatched by the court of Spain to ascertain the exact situation of the Molucca Islands, sailing along the eastern coast of South America, discovered the straits that bear his name; and, passing through them, first launched the ships of Europe in the Southern Sea. It is, however, probable that neither Balboa, while he gazed with transport on its mighty waters, nor Magellan, when he first whitened with his canvass the waves of that ocean whose smooth surface induced him to call it the PACIFIC, had any idea either of its vast extent, of the numerous islands that studded its bosom, the diversified and beautiful structure of those foundations, which myriads of tiny architects had reared from the depths of the ocean to the level of its highest wave, or of the varied tribes of man by whom they were inhabited. Boldly pursuing his way across the untraversed surface of this immense ocean, Magellan discovered the Ladrone, and subsequently the Philippine Islands. The object of the voyage was ultimately accomplished; the Victory, the vessel in which Magellan sailed, having performed the first voyage ever made round the world, returned to Europe: but the intrepid commander of the expedition terminated his life without reaching his original destination, having been killed in a quarrel with the natives of one of the Philippine Islands.

Several distinguished Spanish, Dutch, and British navigators followed the adventurous course of Magellan across the waters of the Pacific, and were rewarded by the discoveries they made in that part of the world, which, under the appellation of POLYNESIA,* from a Greek term signifying many islands, geographers have since denominated the sixth division of the globe. This designation was, in the sixteenth century, given by Portuguese authors to the Moluccas, the Philippiñes, and other islands to the eastward of Java; and was first

* According to De Brosses, Malte Brun, Pinkerton, and others, POLYNESIA includes the various islands found in the Pacific, from the Ladrones to Easter Island. The principal groups are-the Ladrone Islands, the Carolinas, the Pelew Islands, the Sandwich Islands, the Friendly Islands, the Navigators' Islands, the Hervey Islands, the Society Islands, the Georgian Islands, and the Marquesas.