A SACRED CEREMONY. 179 



upon madness. It was particularly when repose was 

 courted that our torment was greatest. When 

 travelling out of doors the cold checked the attacks 

 of the foe, which only resumed their onslaught with 

 new vigour when reanimated by the great heat of the 

 yarangas. This was the most fearful infliction 

 experienced during om* stay in Tuski land, and far 

 sm'passed anythhig I ever suffered ; producing in me 

 an agitation of the nerves, like St. Vitus' dance. 



A few days' rest prepared us for renew^ed efforts. 

 On the 24tli of March I was dispatched to Wootair, 

 for the purpose of obtaining magnetic and other 

 observations ; these were delayed by the occm-rence 

 of bad weather ; and I returned to the ship only on 

 the 1st of April. During my stay at Woorel I was 

 witness to a ceremony of a highly curious and 

 peculiar nature ; but I was unable to form from it, 

 and others of a like description, more than a very 

 faint idea of the structure of theh" religion. 



My friend Ahmoleen had been so fortunate as to 

 kill a small whale, which was a circumstance to be 

 celebrated with feasting and rejoicing. Upon the 

 bank above the sea was lit a fire, into which were 

 thrown the entrails of a puppy, just strangled ; its 

 carcase was then cast into the wave. Fish, venison, 

 blubber, and some other sorts of food were boile.d 



N 2 



