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TAHITI
AND
SOCIETY ISLANDS.
LONDON:
RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY,
Instituted 1799;
SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER ROW; AND BY THE BOOKSELLERS.
TOMS
Frinted by J. Rider, Little Britain, London.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I....
1
Discovery of Tahiti by Captain Wallis-First Inter-
course with the Islanders-Voyages of Captain Cook-
Effects of early Voyages to the South Sea Islands, in
directing the Attention of Christians to the Moral
State of their Inhabitants-Geographical Situation,
Extent, Climate, and Natural History of the Islands-
Notices of the Bread Fruit, Cocoa Nut, Plantain, &c.
CHAPTER II......
22
Peculiarities of the various Tribes inhabiting the
Islands of the Pacific-Physical, intellectual, and
moral Character of the South Sea Islanders-Feelings
of Sympathy excited in their behalf-Formation of
the Missionary Society-The broad, catholic Principles
of its Founders-Appointment and Departure of the
Ship Duff, with the first Mission to the South Seas-
Sentiments and Feelings of the Missionaries-Arrival
at Tahiti-Reception of the Missionaries by the King
and Chiefs-Temporary Accommodations provided-
Grant of Land for the permanent Support of the Mis-
sion-Ordination of Missionaries for other Islands-
Establishment of the Monthly Missionary Prayer
Meeting-Probable Causes of the favourable Recep-
tion of the Mission.
Mr 926
CHAPTER III..
52
Circumstances under which the Mission was com-
menced-Notice of an earlier Attempt by Spanish
Roman Catholics-General View of the State of the
Inhabitants at the time-Nature and Tendency of
their Superstitions-Number and Character of their
Idols, Birds, Beasts, Fishes, and other objects of reli-
gious Veneration-Deified Men-Influence of their
Superstition-Temples, different kinds, their Extent,
Structure, Uses--Account of the great Temple of
Oberea in Papara-Sacred Trees within the precincts
of the Temples-The Foundations laid on the Bodies
of human Victims offered in sacrifice-Pagan Worship
— Priests — Prayers - Offerings - Victims - Human
Sacrifices-Recollections of their Cruelty still retained
by the People- Manner of disposing of the Bodies of
the human Victims-Heathen Festivals-Depraved
Morals of the People-Prevalence of Dishonesty-
Intemperance-Habits of the South Sea Islanders-
Degradation of the Female Sex-Operation of the
Tabu System.
-
CHAPTER IV.
73
Practice of Infant Murder among the South Sea
Islanders-Numbers Destroyed-Means by which this
cruel Deed was accomplished-Motives by which they
were influenced in its Perpetration-Female Infants
most frequently Destroyed-Disproportion between
the Sexes-War, its frequency-Human Sacrifices
offered during the Preparation for War-Modes of
Warfare-Attack and Defence-Weapons, Dress, and
Ornaments of the Warriors-Treatment of the Van-
quished-Destruction of their Villages, of the aged
Relatives and Infants of the defeated Party-Insult of
the Bodies of the Slain-Customs in relation to the
Dead-Self-torture and Weeping-Practice of em-
balming Curious preparatory Ceremonies-Houses
erected for the Dead-Means employed to pacify the
Spirits of the Departed-Probable Population of the
Island at the time the Mission was established.