blessing of peace; the people seemed to be as happy as any under heaven; and well they may, for they possess not only the necessaries, but many of the luxuries of life in the greatest profusion; and my young man told me that hogs, fowls, and fruits are in equal plenty at Bola-bola, a thing which Tupia would never allow. To clear up this seeming contradiction, I must observe, that the one was prejudiced against, and the other in favour of, this isle. The produce of the islands, the manners and customs of the natives, &c. having been treated at large in the narrative of my former voyage, it will be unnecessary to take notice of these subjects in this, unless where I can add new matter, or clear up any mistakes which may have been committed. As I had some reason to believe, that amongst their religious customs, human sacrifices were sometimes considered as necessary, I went one day to a _Marai_ in Matavai, in company with Captain Furneaux; having with us, as I had upon all other occasions, one of my men who spoke their language tolerably well, and several of the natives, one of whom appeared to be an intelligent, sensible man. In the _Marai_ was a _Tupapow_, on which lay a corpse and some viands; so that every thing promised success to my inquiries. I began with asking questions relating to the several objects before me, if the plantains, &c. were for the _Eatua_? If they sacrificed to the _Eatua_, hogs, dogs, fowls, &c. to all of which he answered in the affirmative. I then asked, if they sacrificed men to the _Eatua_? he answered, _Taata eno_; that is, bad men they did, first _Tiparrahy_, or beating them till they were dead. I then asked him, If good men were put to death in this manner? his answer was, No, only _Taata eno_. I asked him, If any _Earees_ were? he said, they had hogs to give to the _Eatua_, and again repeated _Taata eno_. I next asked him, If _Towtows_, that is, servants or slaves, who had no hogs, dogs, or fowls, but yet were good men, if they were sacrificed to the _Eatua_? His answer was, No, only bad men. I asked him several more questions, and all his answers seemed to tend to this one point, that men for certain crimes were condemned to be sacrificed to the gods, provided they had not wherewithal to redeem themselves. This, I think, implies that, on some occasions, human sacrifices are considered as necessary; particularly when they take such men as have, by the laws of the country, forfeited their lives, and have nothing to redeem them; and such will generally be found among the lower class of people.