re, and Tupia was
subsequently received on board the Endeavour as interpreter.

During his first visit to the island, Captain Cook learned very little
about the religion of the people. He came to the conclusion that they
believed in one God or Creator of the universe, and in a number of
subordinate deities, called Etuas, as also in a separate state of
existence with different degrees of happiness. They did not seem to
fancy that their deities took any notice of their actions. Their
religion, such as it was, had therefore no restraining influence over
them. Their priests were called Tahowas. The office was hereditary.
All ranks belonged to it. The chief priest was generally the younger
brother of a good family, and was respected in a degree next to the
king. Of the little knowledge existing in the country the priests
possessed the greatest share, especially with regard to navigation and
astronomy. The name Tahowa signifies, indeed, a man of knowledge. Like
all heathen superstitions, their system was one of imposture; and the
priests supported their authority by cunning, and by working on the
credulity of the people. Captain Cook was not aware at that time that
it was their custom to offer up human sacrifices, and that they
exercised a fearful influence over the people by selecting for victims
those who had in any way offended them. The persons fixed on, often
young men or girls in the pride and strength of youth, were followed,
unsuspicious of the fate awaiting them, and were struck down by the
clubs of the assistant priests without warning. They were then offered
up at their morais to the Etuas, whose anger they desired to propitiate.
The priests professed also to cure diseases by incantations very
similar to those practised by the medicine-men or mystery-men among the
Indians of North America. A society existed, called the Arreoy, the
object of which was to set at defiance all the laws of morality which
the rest of the people acknowledged. Many of the principal people of
the island belonged to it. By its rules any woman becoming a mother was
compelled instantly to strangle her infant. Both Captain Cook and Mr
Banks spoke to some who acknowledged that they had thus destroyed
several children, and, far from considering it as a disgrace, declared
that it was a privilege to belong to the association. For a long period
this dissolute society existed, and opposed all the efforts of the
Christian missionaries