MELANESIA. 65 



bodies of two of his wives, one on each side, their right and left 

 hands respectively being laid upon his breast. All three are then 

 wrapped up together in numerous rolls of native cloth, and the grave 

 is filled in upon them. The " sacred earth" is laid upon the top, and 

 over this a stone (usually a small block of basalt) is set up to mark 

 the spot. 



The custom of voluntary suicide on the part of the old men, which 

 is among their most extraordinary usages, is also connected with their 

 superstitions respecting a future life. They believe that persons enter 

 upon the delights of their elysium with the same faculties, mental 

 and physical, that they possess at the hour of death, in short, that the 

 spiritual life commences where the corporeal existence terminates. 

 With these views, it is natural that they should desire to pass through 

 this change before their mental and bodily powers are so enfeebled by 

 age as to deprive them of the capacity for enjoyment. To this motive 

 must be added the contempt which attaches to physical weakness 

 among a nation of warriors, and the wrongs and insults which await 

 those who are no longer able to protect themselves. When, therefore, 

 a man finds his strength declining with the advance of age, and feels 

 that he will soon be unequal to discharge the duties of this life, and 

 to partake in the pleasures of that which is to come, he calls together 

 his relations, and tells them that he is now worn out and useless, that 

 he sees they are all ashamed of him, and that he has determined to 

 be buried. Thereupon they hold a consultation, and if they think 

 proper to comply with his request, they fix a time for the ceremony, 

 which is always preceded by a farewell feast (mburua). 



When the day arrives, he attends the banquet, and then walks to 

 the spot where he desires to be buried, and marks out his grave. 

 When they are digging it, he paints himself, puts on a clean girdle 

 and turban, and when it is ready, is assisted by the workmen into his 

 last resting-place. His wife, if he has one, is strangled and buried 

 beside him. His friends and relatives then raise loud lamentations, 

 weeping and cutting themselves as at a funeral, and all go to him in 

 succession to give him a last kiss. He is then covered up with rolls 

 of cloth, which are laid loosely over his face, so that he may not be 

 immediately smothered. Then they throw in the earth, which they 

 stamp down every where, except over his head. He is not buried so 

 deep but that they can sometimes hear him speak, although they 

 cannot distinguish the words. They then retire, and are tambu for 

 some time, as usual after a burial. The following night, his son goes 



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