444 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



the drudges of the men. Many years ago some of the big chiefs 

 had as many as fifty wives, but such a thing is not known at the 

 present time. 



6. Childbirth Customs. — When the time of a woman draws 

 near she is taken away to a little leaf house in the bush, specially 

 built for the occasion by the women themselves — no man being 

 allowed to touch it — there to await the birth of her child. No man 

 is allowed to go near the place for at least ten days after the birth 

 of the child. Dui-ing this period the woman's female friends attend 

 to her requirements and see that she has plenty to eat. No married 

 woman is allowed to sleep with a woman in her confinement, but 

 it is quite permissible for unmarried girls to sleep in the same house. 



7. Burial Customs. — Immediately after the death of a man 

 all his relatives and friends are summoned to the house, where great 

 waihng and lamentation goes on for several hours, with the idea of 

 appeasing the wi"ath of the spirit of the deceased and frightening 

 away any evil spirits that might be lurking about. After that the 

 body is carried away by four of the relatives, placed upon the 

 funeral pile, and cremated. 



After the cremation ceremony, all the people of the village 

 gather together, and a time of feasting takes place. Then some of 

 the ashes and all stray bits of bone from the cremation — if such it 

 can be called — are taken by the nearest of kin and placed in the 

 little sacred shrine in the village, out of regard for the dead and by 

 way of remembrance. The period of mourning generally lasts 

 from eighty to two hundred days, and during that time the widow 

 of the deceased will not leave the village. She will not allow a 

 drop of water to touch her body, nor a comb or knife to touch her 

 head. Her hair gi^ows long, and in a few months she is a most 

 miserable and pitiable object to behold. Thus she lives to express 

 her sorrow. | 



As soon as possible after cremation takes place the relatives 

 of deceased get someone to give a pig and taro to those who chopped 

 the wood and attended to the cremation rites. Then in six months 

 a feast is made for the benefit of the one who gave the pig, and he is 

 at that time paid for the pig. The payment usually consists of 

 shell armlets. Should the one who gives the pig be connected in 

 any way by marriage with the family, he must not under any 

 consideration look for payment. 



A " tabu " lasting for six months is placed up on all cocoanuts 

 that belonged to deceased, no one being allowed to go near them, 

 touch them, or trade with them. When the period of mourning is 

 ended another big feast is made to celebrate the occasion, and the 

 widow is released from the customary restraints. No wonder that 

 such an occasion is a time of great rejoicing. 



8. ReMgious Beliefs. — ^These people believe in a Great and 

 Good Spirit, by name " Bangara la'ata." To him they give the 

 credit of making the world and lall that is therein. In addition to 



