CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 101 



put her to death. On reaching the grave, the mother sat down, when 

 they all, including children, grandchildren, relations, and friends, 

 took an affectionate leave of her ; a rope, made of twisted tapa, was 

 then passed twice around her neck by her sons, who took hold of it, 

 and strangled her ; after which she was put into her grave, with the 

 usual ceremonies. They returned to feast and mourn, after which 

 she was entirely forgotten as though she had not existed. 



Mr. Hunt, after giving me this anecdote, surprised me by express- 

 ing his opinion that the Feejeeans were a kind and affectionate people 

 to their parents, adding, that he was assured by many of them that 

 they considered this custom as so great a proof of affection that 

 none but children could be found to perform it. The same opinion 

 was expressed by all the other white residents. 



A short time before our arrival, an old man at Levuka did some- 

 thing to vex one of his grandchildren, who in consequence threw 

 stones at him. The only action the old man took in the case was to 

 walk away, saying that he had now lived long enough, when his 

 grandchildren could stone him with impunity. He then requested 

 his children and friends to bury him, to which they consented. A 

 feast was made, he was dressed in his best tapa, and his face 

 blackened. He was then placed sitting in his grave, with his head 

 about two feet below the surface. Tapa and mats were thrown upon 

 him, and the earth pressed down ; during which he was heard to 

 complain that they hurt him, and to beg that they would not press 

 so hard. 



Self-immolation is by no means rare, and they believe that as they 

 leave this life, so will they remain ever after. This forms a powerful 

 motive to escape from decrepitude, or from a crippled condition, by a 

 voluntary death. 



Wives are often strangled, or buried alive, at the funeral of their 

 husbands, and generally at their own instance. Cases of this sort 

 have frequently been witnessed by the white residents. On one 

 occasion Whippy drove away the murderers, rescued the woman, 

 and carried her to his own house, where she was resuscitated. So 

 far, however, from feeling grateful for her preservation, she loaded 

 him with abuse, and ever afterwards manifested the most deadly 

 hatred towards him. That women should desire to accompany their 

 husbands in death, is by no means strange, when it is considered that 

 it is one of the articles of their belief, that in this way alone can they 

 reach the realms of bliss, and that she who meets her death with the 



vol. in. 26 



