Apr 25, 1792 Home Providence Log Apr 27, 1792
Revised Aug 26 2021
Pots
Yesterday 983
99
Total 1082
Fair Weather with Land and Sea Breezes. Thermometer from 81 to 83½ Degrees.
Employed in the Hold, and Caulking the Starboard Side of the Ship. Very plentifull Supplies to Day. Filled 99 Pots with Bread Fruit Plants and one of Vees.
At day light this morning I walked with Tynah and Hammennemanne (for so I shall now call him) to see the Great Temple Tebbotaboo,ataiah. I found it on a double Cannoe, about a Mile from Point Venus to the Eastward, near the small Island called Modoo,ow, in the harbour called Taipippee. It was hauled up on the Beach. On the prow of the Cannoe was a baked Hog, the Head of a Dog & a Towel, with a peice of Sugar Cane. Being seated in the Cannoe Hammennemanne began a Prayer in favor of King George, Myself and Mr. Portlock, who was with me, the principal purport of which was, that we might never want or be overcome by our Ennemies. His chanting was accompanied by two Drums, one was beat by a Native and the other by one of my People who was with me, so that it cannot be supposed there was much harmony in it. There was an interval in the Prayer, when the Priest took off all his Cloaths and lifted a bundle like an Egyptian Mummey covered with red Cloth from under its vault into a kind of Trough on the Top of it. It contained (he said) the Etuah, & Worrow te oorah (a), and some other sacred things. I requested to have it opened, which at this time he did not like to comply with, but assured me I should see it to morrow at Oparre, where it was to be sent in the course of this Day to be ready at a Ceremony which I was to be at.
(a) many Feathers
$link$ See 12th July
This senseless lump and Cannoe which my drawing will give a just Idea of, and has been spoken of with so much wonder and respect, is about 6 feet long 4 feet wide and 5½ feet high. They call it the Ephare no t'Etuah, or Ephare Tuah, the House of God; and his Temple Tebbootaboo,ataiah. The Wooden Arches which are 18 Inches high are cut hollow in Ribs and are called Avy or Legs. There are three Arches which support the Morai, but the Ephare Tuah has the interstices filled, so that it forms only one Arch. On the top of these arches are fastened two Troughs, (like mangers) one has a narrow shed over it and is called the House of God, the other with four rude ornaments is called the Morai. The Trough however is called Erroee. On the Top of the Morai are represented two Birds. There is in no part of it, ingenuity or Workmanship to recommend it to notice; but its duties and the sacred Rights performed to it, among which are the human sacrifices, induced me to be particular in the description.
This place is Sacred to the Chief no person ventures near it. He always Sleeps here when it is too late to go to Oparre—
Otoo slept under a small Shed near the Morai, he had most of the things with him that we had given to him, and a St. Georges Ensign which was left here by Captain Cook. This Ensign is always carried with the Morai, and it was displayed in sailing past the Ships to Oparre, with a small Red Flag.
Peace is established. Poeeno and Tynah have had a meeting, and it is agreed that Poeeno shall live again at Matavai. They have promised to return Captain Weatherhead's Money, but I am in doubt about their sincerity. I however dare not involve myself in any trouble with these People to get either one part of his property or the other, altho I will do my utmost to regain it by every fair means I am capable of.
The Harbour of Taipippee is but small, and nothing about it to induce any Person to Anchor a Ship there.
A Shirk [shark] 7 feet long was caught along side the Ship. Many Porpoises were in the Bay.
The Native name for the high forked Mountain which I have called Otoo's Horns is Orohee,nah, or Oroo,enah.
Apr 25, 1792 Home Providence Log Apr 27, 1792