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The foundation confifted of rock-ftones, the Heps of coral, and the upper paid ofround pebbles, all of the fame fhape and fize ; the rock and coral-ftones were allfquared with the utmoft neatnefs and regularity, and the whole building appeared ascompact and firm, as if it had been erected by the belt workmen in Europe . As theIndians were totally deftitute of iron utenfils to fhape their ftones, as well as mortar tocement them, when they had made them fit for ufe, a ftrudure of fuch height andmagnitude muff have been a work of infinite labour and fatigue.
In the centre of the fummit was the reprefentation of a bird, carved in wood ; clofeto this was the figure of a fifh, which was in ftone. This pyramid made part of onefide of a wide court or fquare, the Tides of which were nearly equal; the whole waswalled in, and paved with flat ftones. Within this place grew (notwithftanding it w r asin this manner paved) feveral plantains, and trees which the natives call Etoa. At alittle diftance to the weft of this edifice was another paved fquare, which contained fe-veral fmall ftages, called by the natives Ewattas, which appeared to be altars ; uponthem they place provifions, as facrifices to their gods. Mr. Banks afterwards obfervedwhole hogs placed upon thefe ewattas, or altars.
The inhabitants of the ifland of Otaheite , feem in nothing fo defirous of excellingeach other as in the grandeur and magnificence of their fepulchres ; and the rank andauthority of Oberea was forcibly evinced upon this occafion. The gentlemen of theEndeavour, it has been obferved, did not find Oberea poffeffed of the fame power aswhen the Dolphin was at this place, and they were now informed of the caufe. Theway from her houfe to the Morai, was by the fea-fide, and they obferved, in all placesas they paffed along, a great number of human bones. Inquiry being made into thecaufe of this extraordinary fight, they were informed, that about four or five monthsbefore Captain Cook ’s arrival, the inhabitants of Tiarrabou, the peninfula to the fouth-eaft, made a defcent here, and flew many of the people, whofe bones were thofe thatWere feen upon the coaft : that hereupon Oberea, and Oamo who then held the go-vernment for his fon, had fled and taken refuge in the mountains ; and that the vic-tors deftroyed all the houfes, and pillaged the country. Mr. Banks was alfo informed,that the turkey and goofe which he had feen in the diftrict of Mathiabo were amongthe booty. This afforded a reafon for their being found where the Dolphin had littleor no correfpondence; and the jaw-bones being mentioned, which had been feenhanging in a houfe, he was informed, that they had likewife been carried off as tro-phies, the jaw-bones of their enemies being confidered by the natives of this ifland asmarks of triumph equally as great as fcalps are by the Indians in North America .
On Friday, the goth, they arrived at Otahourou, where their old acquaintanceTootahah refided ; he received them with great civility, and provided for them a goodfupper, and a convenient lodging; and notwithftanding they were fo fhamefully plun-dered the laft time they flept with this chief, they l'pent the night in the utmoft fecurity,none of their clothes, or any other article, being miffing in the morning.
On Saturday, July ift, they returned to the fort at Port Royal harbour; havingdifcovered the ifland, both peninfulas included, to be about one hundred miles in cir-cumference.
Their Indian friends crowded about them upon their return, and none of them camewithout provifions.
Monday, the 3d, Mr. Banks made an excurfion, with fome Indian guides, to tracethe river up the valley to its fource, and obferve to what extent its banks were inha-bited. After meeting with houfes for the fpace of fix miles, they came up to onewhich was Paid to be the laft that could be feen. The mafter of it prefented them with
3 u 2 cocoa-