prayer. The entrails were then thrown into the fire to be consumed, and the carcase was placed on the whatta. The tufts of red feathers that had been used on this occasion, were all shut up in the ark of the Eatooa; and the solemnity finally closed. During this day's service, Otoo was stationed between the two drums, in front of the morai, and the Captain beside him.
Our navigator was duly affected with the horrors of this human sacrifice; more especially as he counted on the stone platform, or low altar, adjoining to the whatta, or elevated altar, no less than 49 skulls of human victims, none of which were so old as to have been injured by time, or by exposure to the weather. The skull of this poor wretch would be taken up from the grave, after the lapse of some months, and make up the number to 50. And this was not the only addition to be made at this time; for, in ten days after, another unfortunate victim, sent by Waheatua, was offered up here; on occasion of Otoo's restoring to the friends of the late Tootaha, the lands and possessions withheld from them since his death. The Captain did not know of this second sacrifice, till it was too late for him to witness it. At the place where the skulls lay, were a number of those upright planks, or pieces of wood, called unus, curiously carved, and used to represent ti's, or spirits.
It was observed, that, during the offering of the human sacrifice, the company present did not manifest that seriousness which might have been expected. Even some of the priests, not immediately engaged, were conversing together, and a great part of the company, instead of attending to the solemnities, were crowding around Omai, to
