THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. IQ'J 



is past, is past. The song records the names 

 whicli are wortli preservation, and the multitude 

 float carelessly with the stream. * 



Kadu knew as little about his own age, as any 

 of the islanders of the Eastern Polynesia. The life 

 of these islanders, thoughtless, resolute, and only 

 belonging to the moment, are free from many of 

 the torments which undermine ours. When we 

 told Kadu of the suicides among us, he thought 

 he had heard wrong, and it appeared to him the 

 most ridiculous thing we had ever told him. But 

 they are, and for the same reason, impatient 

 under foreign deliberate oppression ; and history 

 records in her annals, the suicide of the Marians, 

 under the Spaniards, (the messengers of the 

 Gospel ?) 



In all the Caroline islands, only invisible, hea- 

 venly divinities are believed. Nowhere do they 

 make the figures of gods; nowhere adore man's 

 works, or corporeal things. Kadu knew very little 

 of the theosophy of his people. What we here 

 relate after him, leaves many things to be wisiied 

 for, and, perhaps, needs correction. We have 

 thought, that we must translate, by the word God, 

 his word Tautup, {Tahutwp, C.) and Jageach, at 

 Radack. According to Cantova, the Tahutup are 

 departed souls, which are considered as guarthan 

 genii. 



* " Curpc dien." 

 O 2 



