352 AVOYAGETO 



y77- mane nations upon earth. On inquiring into the reafons 

 of fo barbarous a pracflice, they only faid, that it was a ne- 

 ccffary pare of the Natche; and that, if they omitted it, the 

 Deity would certainly deftroy their king. 



Before the aflembly broke up, the day was far fpentj and 

 as we were at fome diftance from the fliips, and had an in- 

 tricate navigation to go through, we were in hafte to fet out 

 from Mooa. When I took leave of Poulaho, he preiTed me 

 much to ftay till the next day, to be prefent at a funeral ce- 

 remony. The wife of Mareewagee, who was mother in-law 

 to the king, had lately died ; and her corpfe had, on account 

 of the Natche, been carried on board a canoe that fay iu 

 the lagoon. Poulaho told me, that, as foon as he had paid the 

 laft offices to her, he would attend me to Eooa ; but, if I did 

 not wait, that he would follow me thither. I underflood, 

 at the fame time, that, if it had not been for the death of 

 this woman, mod of the Chiefs would have accompanied us 

 to that ifland ; where, it feems, all of them have pofTeffions. 

 I would gladly have waited to fee this ceremony alio, had 

 'not the tide been now favourable for the fhips to get 

 through the narrows. The wind, befides, which, for fc- 

 veral days pail, had been very boifterous, was now mode- 

 rate and fettled ; and to have loft this opportunity, might 

 have detained us a fortnight longer. But what was de- 

 ciiive againft my waiting, we underflood that the funeral 

 ceremonies would laft five days, which was too long a time, 

 as the fhips lay in fuch a fituation, that I could not get to 

 fea at pleafure. I, however, afTured the king, that, if we 

 did not fail, I fhould certainly vifit him again the next day. 

 And fo we all took leave of him, and fet out for the fliips, 



•where we arrived about eight o'clock in the evening. 



I had 



