270 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



The leaden coffin is now enclosed in one of wood, covered 

 with rich crimson velvet, and elaborately studded, and ornament- 

 ed with brass. On the top is a brass plate, with this inscrip- 

 tion : 



" Harieta 



Nahienaena, 



22 Makahiki, i make 



i detemaba, he 30 



la, i ka makahiki, 



o ko haku, 



1836."* 



The coffin rests upon a tressel in the centre of the large house, 

 and underneath it is a native mat of the finest and most delicate 

 workmanship. This mat is considered a great curiosity. It was 

 made in the time of Tamehameha, and was presented to his 

 queen. The grass of which it is composed is about the thickness 

 of a horse hair, and the fabric is soft and pliant as a silken cloth. 

 The coffin is covered with a large cloak, made of the splendid 

 yellow feathers of one of the native birds, and is surrounded by 

 about a dozen of the magnificent insignia of royalty, called 

 kahiles. These kahiles are made of the feathers of different 



* Harieta 

 Nahienaena, 

 aged 22 years, died 

 on tlie 30th of December, 

 in the year 

 of our Lord, 

 1836. 

 This appears like a contradiction. It is stated on tlie coffin plate, that the prin- 

 cess died on the 30th of December, when it did not actually occur until the 5th of 

 January. This is accounted for, by the peculiar, and in some measure, reasonable 

 doctrine of tlie Sandwich Islanders, that a person experiences two deaths ; one of 

 the mind, and another of the body. Now the mi7id of the princess died, i. e., be- 

 came deranged, on the 30lh of December, although Iier body did not die until the 

 5lh of Januarv. 



