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they imagine their actions no way influence their future flate, and that their deities takeno cognizance of them whatfoever.
The office of prieft is hereditary ; there are feveral of them, and of all ranks; thechief is refpedted next to their Kings, and they are fuperior to the reft of thenatives not only in point of divine knowledge, but alfo in that of navigation andaftronomy.
The priefts here are no way concerned with the ceremony of marriage, it being afnnple agreement, between the man and woman ; and when they chufe to feparate, it isdone with as little ceremony as that of their marriage.
Slings, with which they are very dexterous, pikes headed with ftone, and long clubsmade of wood, remarkably hard and heavy, conftitute their weapons. — With thefethey fight with great obftinacy and cruelty, giving no quarter to either man, woman,or child, if they fall into their hands in time of battle.
There is nothing among them fubftituted for money, or a general medium, by whichevery objeft may be purchafed or procured; neither can any permanent good beunlawfully obtained by force or fraud : and the general commerce with women fetsafide almoft every excitement for committing adultery. In a word, in a governmentfo little poliflied, though diftributive juftice cannot be regularly adminiftered, as therecan at the fame time be but few crimes for the exercife of it, the want of this juftice isnot fo feverely felt as in civilized countries.
Thurfday, July the 13th, after leaving the ifland of Otaheite , they failed with agentle breeze and clear weather; and were informed by Tupia, that four iflands,which he called Huaheine, Ulietea, Otaha, and Bolabola, were at the diftance of aboutone or two days fail, and that hogs, fowls, and other refrelhments, which had latelybeen fcarce, were to be got there in abundance. They accordingly fleered their courfe-in fearch of thefe iflands, and on Saturday the 15th, difcovered the ifland of Huaheine ;and on the 16th, in the morning, they founded near the north-weft part of the ifland,but found no bottom with feventy fathom. Several canoes immediately put off, butthey appeared fearful of coming near the fhip, till they faw Tupia, who totally removedtheir apprehenfions, and they ventured to come along-fide; and upon affurances offriendship, the King of Huaheine and his Queen went on board. Aftonifhment wasteftified by Their Majefties at every thing that was fhewn to them ; yet they made norefearches, and appeared fatisfied with what was prefented to their obfervation, makingno inquiry after any other objects, though it was reafonable to fuppofe, that a buildingof fuch novelty and extent as the fhip mull have afforded many curiofities. The King?whofe name was Oree, made a propofal to exchange names with Captain Cook , whichwas readily affented to. The cuftom of exchanging names is very prevalent in thisifland, and is confidered as a mark of friendfhip. They found the people here nearlyfimilar to thofe of Otaheite in almoft every circumftance, except, if Tupia might becredited, they were not addicted to thieving. Having come to an anchor in a fm a “but fine harbour, on the weft fide of the ifland, Captain Cook went afhore, accom-panied by Mr. Banks and fome other gentlemen, with Tupia and the King. The inflantthey landed, Tupia uncovered himfelf as low as his waift, and defired Mr. Monkhoufeto follow his example. Being feated, he now began a fpeech, which lafted abouttwenty minutes; the King, who flood oppofite to him, anfwering in what feemed to bsfet replies. During this difcourfe, he delivered at different times a handkerchief, ablack filk neckcloth, fome beads and plantains, as prefents to their Eatua, or deity*He received in return, for the Eatua of the Englifh, a hog, fome young plantains, antwo bunches of feathers, which were carried on board. Thefe ceremonies were con ^