MELANESIA. 63 



near Mbau, are those by whom the ceremony of inaugurating the 

 head-chief of that town must be performed, and in consequence, he 

 does not take, as might be expected, the title of Tui-Mbau, but is 

 known as Tui-Kamba and Tui-Levuka. 



The foregoing observations will suffice to give a general idea of the 

 political organization of the Feejeeans. We shall next advert to some 

 of their most remarkable customs, and especially to such as display 

 the peculiar character of the people. The institution of the tambu, 

 which has already been noticed, as well as the ceremonies connected 

 with the drinking of kava, although among those which first attract 

 attention, from their frequent occurrence, are yet so similar to what 

 they are in the Polynesian islands, (and especially in Samoa and 

 Tonga,) that a particular account of them is not necessary. Tattoo- 

 ing (which is called ~ggla) is another custom to which the same 

 observation will apply ; but it is remarkable that while, among the 

 Polynesians, it is the men who are chiefly tattooed, in these islands, 

 on the contrary, the women only are subjected to the operation, and 

 the men are, with few exceptions, entirely exempt. The marks are 

 imprinted in a broad band around the loins and thighs. As they are 

 almost entirely covered by the liku or cincture, and as the colour is 

 hardly perceptible on their dusky skins, it is difficult to comprehend 

 the object of the custom. The tattooers are always females, who 

 make it a regular profession (lerva vei-ygfa), and are paid for their 

 labour. 



The immolation of women at the burial of a chief has been thought 

 to afford an evidence of connexion between these islands and some 

 Asiatic nations. However this may be, the fact itself is sufficiently 

 striking. The reason assigned for the custom by the natives is con- 

 nected with their belief concerning the destiny of the soul. As the 

 disembodied spirit of the chief is supposed, before it finally descends 

 to the Mbulu or hades, to dwell for a time in the thimbathimba, which 

 is usually some district or island near his original home, and to be 

 there engaged in occupations similar to those which he followed 

 during life, the natives consider that the wife, in accompanying him 

 to this residence, is merely doing her duty towards her companion, 

 who, without her, would be living a lonely and cheerless existence. 

 The following account of the ceremonies at the burial of a chief was 

 received from Mr. Cargill, who had been an eye-witness to them a 

 few months before our arrival. 



When a dying man is near his end, his friends place in his hands 



