RADACK AND OTHER ISLANDS. 173 



We mention with hesitation and abhorrence a 

 law, the reason for which Kadu ascribed to nrgent 

 want, and the steriUty of the niggardly earth. 

 Every mother is allowed to bring up only three 

 children ; her fourth and every succeeding one she 

 is obliged to bury alive herself. The families of 

 the chiefs are not subjected to this barbarity. 

 Natural children are brought up in the same man- 

 ner as the legitimate. When they are able to walk, 

 the father takes them to himself. When no father 

 recognizes the child, the mother keeps it : when 

 the mother dies, another woman takes care of the 

 child. 



The corpses of the deceased are entirely w^ound 

 round with strings, in a sitting posture. The 

 chiefs are buried on the islands. A large square 

 space, surrounded with large stones, marks the 

 place, under palms, on the inner shore. Those of 

 the people are thrown into the sea. They treat in 

 the same manner their enemies flillen in battle, 

 according to their rank. A staff fixed in the 

 ground, with annular incisions, marks the grave of 

 the children who were not allowed to live. We 

 have ourselves seen both kinds of graves. 



A long time ago, an European ship was seen at 

 Kawen, and remained a day in the neighbourhood 

 of this group, without attempting to land. The 

 chief, Saur-aur, our hospitable friend at Tabual, 

 went on board this ship. (We observe that his 



