THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. 511 



son's assertion, is expressly observed at Pelew. 

 There a chief, who has generally several wives, 

 has his place, with any one of his wives who is in 

 this state, supplied by a chosen man. We shall 

 speak particularly of the customs of Pelew. Mar- 

 ried women in other islands are entirely devoted 

 to their husbands. They are bound by duty, and 

 the uncorrupted morals of the people seem to guard 

 their virtue. Unmarried women are allowed their 

 liberty, according to custom. They pass the nights 

 in their own large houses. Infanticide is unheard- 

 of; the prince would have the unnatural mother 

 punished with death. 



What we related respecting the burial of the 

 dead at Radack, is also customary at Ulea, and the 

 islands lying more east. According to Kadu, the 

 corpses of all persons, without distinction of birth, 

 are buried on the islands at Feis, Mogemug, and 

 Eap. We, however, see at Mogemug, after the 

 great tragedy which concludes the history of the 

 Carolina missions, the customs of Ulea observed 

 towards the dreaded strangers whom they had 

 murdered, and must believe that Kadu erred with 

 respect to Mogemug. At Eap the burying-places 

 are in the mountains. The mountaineers fetch 

 the corpses of persons who have died in the valley, 

 and for this office receive a present of fruits, roots, 

 &c. It appears that none of the friends follow it 

 to the grave. 



A bond of inviolable friendship is concluded in 

 p 2 



