THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 167 



tune, accompanied with a flow and gentle motion of the '~79- 



1 ° March. 



body and arms. When this had continued Tome time, they v — ' 



raifed themielves on their knees., and, in a pofture be- 

 tween kneeling and fitting, began by degrees to move their 

 arms and their bodies with great rapidity, the tune always 

 keeping pace with their motions. As thefe laft exertions were 

 too violent to continue long, they relumed, at intervals, their 

 flower movements ; and, after this performance had lafted 

 an hour, more mats were brought and fpread upon the area, 

 and four or five elderly women, amongft whom, I was told, 

 was the dead Chief's wife, advanced flowlyout of the houfe, 

 and feating themfclves in the front of the fir ft company, 

 began to cry and wail moft bitterly ; the women in the three 

 rows behind joining them, whilft the two men inclined 

 their heads over them in a very melancholy and penfive at- 

 titude. At this period of the rites, I was obliged to leave 

 them to attend at the obfervatory ; but returning within 

 half an hour, found them in the fame fituation. I con- 

 tinued with them till late in the evening, and left them 

 proceeding with little variation, as juft delcribed; refolving, 

 however, to attend early in the morning, to fee the remain- 

 der of the ceremony. On my arrival at the houfe, as foon 

 as it was day, I found to my mortification, the crowd dif- 

 perfed, and every thing quiet; and was given to underftand, 

 that the corpfe was removed; nor could I learn in whac 

 manner it was difpofed of. I was interrupted in making 

 farther inquiries for this purpofe, by the approach of three 

 women of rank, who, whilft their attendants flood near 

 them with their fly-flaps, fat down by us, and, entering into 

 converfation, foon made me comprehend, that our prefence 

 was a hindrance to the performance of fome neceflary rites. 



I had 



