unornamented, there being no feathers upon that space, except a few that had been sent by Waheadooa, as already mentioned. The priests made a long prayer relative to this part of the ceremony; and, if I mistook not, they called it the prayer of the _maro_. When it was finished, the badge of royalty was carefully folded up, put into the cloth, and deposited again upon the _morai_. The other bundle, which I have distinguished by the name of the ark, was next opened at one end. But we were not allowed to go near enough to examine its mysterious contents. The information we received was, that the _Eatooa_, to whom they had been sacrificing, and whose name is _Ooro_, was concealed in it; or rather, what is supposed to represent him. This sacred repository is made of the twisted fibres of the husk of the cocoa-nut, shaped somewhat like a large fid or sugar-loaf, that is, roundish, with one end much thicker than the other. We had very often got small ones from different people, but never knew their use before. By this time the pig that had been killed, was cleaned, and the entrails taken out. These happened to have a considerable share of those convulsive motions, which often appear in different parts after an animal is killed, and this was considered by the spectators as a very favourable omen to the expedition, on account of which the sacrifices had been offered. After being exposed for some time, that those who chose might examine their appearances, the entrails were carried to the priests and laid down before them. While one of their number prayed, another inspected the entrails more narrowly and kept turning them gently with a stick. When they had been sufficiently examined, they were thrown into the fire and left to consume. The sacrificed pig, and its liver, &c. were now put upon the _whatta_, where the dog had been deposited the day before; and then all the feathers, except the ostrich-plume, were inclosed with the _Eatooa_ in the ark; and the solemnity finally closed. Four double canoes lay upon the beach, before the place of sacrifice, all the morning. On the fore-part of each of these was fixed a small platform covered with palm-leaves tied in mysterious knots; and this also is called a _morai_. Some cocoa-nuts, plantains, pieces of bread-fruit, fish, and other things, lay upon each of these naval _morais_. We were told that they belonged to the _Eatooa_, and that they were to attend the fleet designed to go against Eimeo.