James Cook. But, to understand
what led to that event, a preliminary explanation must be given.

The natives of Owhyhee had a legend to the effect that a certain god,
Rono, or Orono, formerly lived near Karakakooa Bay, and that, having
killed his wife in a fit of jealousy, remorse drove him from the island.
He set sail in a strangely shaped canoe, promising that he would return
on a floating island, furnished with all that man could desire. When,
therefore, the English ships appeared, their commander was supposed to
be the long-absent Rono, come to restore peace and prosperity to the
country.

The priest Koah having dined on board the Resolution, accompanied
Captain Cook and Mr King on shore--Mr King being taken for the son of
the former. They were met by four men, having wands tipped with dog's
hair, and who shouted a short sentence in which the word Orono was
plainly distinguishable and frequently repeated. During this progress
the crowd either rushed away as in fear, or fell prostrate on the ground
around the party. Koah led the way into the morai, and, chanting a
hymn, took the captain to a sort of altar, on which were arranged twelve
idols in a semicircle, while on a table, before the centre one, which
nearly resembled the idols of Otaheite, lay a putrid hog. A tall young
man, with a beard, Kaireekeea by name, having presented Cook to the
idols, old Koah put the putrid hog to his nose, and then let it drop.
At this time a procession approached, bearing a hog and red cloth.
Kaireekeea went forward to meet them, when they all prostrated
themselves. The hog then was offered to the captain by Koah, who wound
the red cloth round him. Chanting followed. Captain Cook, meanwhile,
had considerable difficulty in keeping his seat upon the rotten
scaffolding. They then descended, and as Koah passed the images he
snapped his fingers at them, and said something in a sneering tone. He,
however, prostrated himself before the centre figure, and kissed it, and
induced the captain to do the same. The captain and Mr King were then
led to another division of the morai, where, in a sunk space, three or
four feet deep, they took their seats between two wooden idols, Koah
holding up one of the captain's arms, and King the other. While here
another procession arrived, with a baked hog and vegetables. Cook put
an end to the ceremony as soon as he could, and returned on board.

No doubt the proceedings of the old priest and