72 REV. M. EELLS, ON THE WORSHIP AND TRADITIONS OP 



The same rite was formerly performed on Fiji youths.* At 

 the Sandwich Islands it was also common, and was attended 

 with religious ceremonies, and performed by a priest, au 

 uncircumcised person being considered mean and des- 

 picable.! 



The same people had professional dancers in honour of the 

 gods, and had several other customs and traditions which 

 correspond to those of the Hebrews, as a story resembling 

 that of Joseph, another like unto Jonah, and again one 

 similar to that of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still, 

 already referred to. 



Every jDcrson who touched a dead body Avas considered 

 wicleaih until purified by religious ceremonies.:}: 



At Puhonna and Honaunau were the Hawaiian cities of 

 refuge. These two sanctuaries Avere absolutely iinaolable. 

 The gates stood open perpetually, and though the fugitiA'-e 

 was liable to be pursued to the threshold, he had ro sooner 

 passed it than he Avas safe from the aA^enger, be he chief or 

 king. The murderer, manslayer, tabu-breaker lied there and 

 thanked the idol for saving them. After a time they re- 

 turned to their homes, and none dared injure those to AAdiom 

 the gods had granted protection. § In time of Avar the pur- 

 suer stopped at the gate, but in time of peace at the flag.|| 



They had also a very strong system of tabu, Avhich made 

 days, places, persons, and things sacred, and death Avas the 

 penalty for Aaolating it, Avhich reminds one of the Avord corhan 

 in the Bible.f 



IV. — A Future Statii:. 



In Sumatra accounts differ, some saying tliat the peoj^le 

 believed in it, Avhile ]\Iarsden says the}' had no such idea.** 

 The people of Ncav Holland in Australia had faint ideas of a 

 future state, believing that at death they shall either roam 

 through the regions of the air as cockatoos, or return to the 



* Coral Islands, vol. i, chaj). 9. 



t Jarves' Sandwich Islands, ]). 19. 



X Jarves' Sandwich Islands, jip. 19, 40. 



v^ Bird's Six Months in the Sandmch Jslands, p. 100. 



II C'heever.s' Sandwich Islands, p. 46. 



^ Anderson's Sandwich Islands, ]>. Fj. 



** Malte Bruu's O'eoff., vol. ii, p. 313. 



