SEPT. 1770 NATIVE FEASTS ARMY AND ARMS 355 



difficult to conceive how the strength of man alone, 

 unassisted by engines, had been able to transport them to 

 the top of the hill where they now stand, were there not in 

 Europe so many far grander instances of the perseverance as 

 well as the strength of our own forefathers. These stones serve 

 for a very peculiar use ; upon the death of a Eadja a general 

 feast is proclaimed throughout his dominions, and in conse- 

 quence all his subjects meet about the stones. Every living 

 creature that can be caught is now killed, and the feast 

 lasts a longer or shorter number of weeks or months accord- 

 ing to the stock of provisions the kingdom happens to be 

 furnished with at the time. The stones serve for tables, on 

 which whole buffaloes are served up. After this madness 

 is over, the whole kingdom is obliged to fast and live upon 

 syrup and water till the next crop ; nor are they able to eat 

 any flesh till some years after, when the few animals which 

 have escaped the general slaughter and been preserved by 

 policy, or which they have acquired from neighbouring 

 kingdoms, have sufficiently increased their species. 



The five kingdoms, says Mr. Lange, of which this island 

 consists, have been from time immemorial not only at 

 peace, but in strict alliance with each other ; notwithstand- 

 ing which they are of a warlike disposition, constant 

 friends but implacable enemies, and have always courage- 

 ously defended themselves against foreign invaders. They 

 are able to raise on a very short notice 7300 men, armed 

 with muskets, lances, spears, and targets : of these the 

 different kingdoms bear their different proportions 

 Laai 2600, Seba 2000, Eegeeua 1500, Timo 800, and 

 Massara 400. Besides the arms before mentioned, every 

 man is furnished with a large chopping -knife, like a 

 straightened wood-bill, but much heavier, which must be a 

 terrible weapon, if these people should have spirit enough 

 to come to close quarters. Mr. Lange upon another occa- 

 sion took an opportunity of telling us that they heave their 

 lances with surprising dexterity, being able at the distance 

 of sixty feet to strike a man's heart and pierce him through. 

 How far these dreadful accounts of their martial prowess 



