NEW DISCOVERIES. CHAP. I. OF THE OTAHEITEAN ISLANDS Religion, Government CHAP. II. OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS Discovery of and subsequent visits to the Sand Origin, Customs, Manners, Religion, and Government of the Inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands Arts, Manufactures, &c. Reflections on the State of the Southern Islands CHAP. III. OF NEW SOUTH WALES Discovery of and subsequent visits to New South Wales 41 X478 1 ib. 74 ib. 54 84 90 113 Situation, Soil, Rivers, Climate, &c. Vegetables. Religion, Government, &c. THE religious system of the Otaheitean Islands abounds with mysterious singularities, of which few persons except the priests can be supposed to have a competent knowledge.-The idea of one supreme Deity seems to be universally held by the people, although they believe in a plurality of deities, each of which is supposed to be invested with ample powers. The prevalence of both good and evil in the material world has induced the Otaheiteans to believe in the existence of evil as well as good deities, and they deem it advisable to offer sacrifices to both.-The good deities are supposed to delight in conferring happiness, and the evil one in performing injuries. But at the same time the believe, that the good as well as the bad deitie inflict punishments, and are the source of many misfortunes. VOL. XI. Different islands, and different districts of the same island, have their respective gods, and, as may naturally be supposed, each of them esteem their own as the most eminent. Relying on the protection, support, and favour of their gods, they deem it no impiety to change one or more of these, if they happen to fail in the discharge of their duty. An instance of this nature occurred in Tiaraboo, where two divinities were dismissed, and Ora, the god of Bolabola, adopted:-the victories of that people occasioned this change, and they were also victorious after the adoption of the new god. Many of their notions of the supreme Deity are singularly extravagant. Instead of considering the inferior gods as dependant upon him, they suppose, that he is dependant upon them. Nay, to such a height of extravagance is this carried, that they suppose these have power to eat him, whilst they grant that he is possessed of power to re-create himself. Few ideas can equal this in absurdity and self contradiction. In a large building called Tourooa, the departed souls are said to assemble for the purpose of recreating themselves, and there the deity is supposed to enquire whether or not they intend to destroy him; and if they express such a resolution, the same remains unalterable. It is supposed that this action is known not only to the spirits themselves, but also to the inhabitants of this lower region. The universal opinion among mankind, that all human knowledge is derived from some great superior source may have given rise to this extravagant notion. Convinced that all excellence comes from the deity, it appears to them the surest method to attain it by consuming him altogether; |