THE K1NGSMILL ISLANDERS. 93 



nearest the point of the heavens from which it took its flight. If 

 accompanied by a train, it foretells the death of a female ; if otherwise, 

 that of a male. 



Some of the chiefs are believed to hold communication with spirits, 

 and to be able at times to foretell future events : they usually exer- 

 cise this pretended power at night; and when a number of people are 

 sleeping in the mariapa, they are awakened by unnatural sounds, 

 proceeding from the chief, which are considered as the words of the 

 god, who speaks by him to announce the arrival of ships, the approach 

 of war, and other great events. When these predictions do not come 

 to pass, they always impute the failure to the intervention of some 

 other spirit. 



They believe in an existence after death, and that on the death of a 

 person, his spirit ascends into the air, where it is carried about by the 

 winds, wherever they may chance to blow, until it finally reaches the 

 Kainakaki elysium. Only those who are tattooed can expect to reach 

 it, and these are generally persons of rank ; all others are intercepted 

 on their way, and doomed by a large giantess, called Baine. If 

 those who die are old and feeble, their spirits are conducted to the 

 Kainakaki by the shades of those who have died before them. The 

 spirits of children are carried to the realms of bliss by their female 

 relatives, and are nursed and taken care of until they are able to 

 provide for themselves. 



The Kainakaki is supposed to be situated in the island of Tavaira, 

 or Gilbert's Island. On this island there are several curious mounds, 

 of different sizes, the largest of which is about a mile long by half a 

 mile wide ; some of them exceed twenty-four feet in height above the 

 surrounding soil : with this altitude, these are very conspicuous on 

 a low coral island. Each of these mounds is supposed to be the 

 place of a Kainakaki, the great beauty of which is invisible to mortal 

 eyes. Here the spirits pass their time in feasting and dancing ; and 

 whatever they delighted in on earth, is now enjoyed to the fullest 

 extent. The ground of the Kainakaki is considered sacred, and 

 though overgrown with trees, no native will venture to cut them 

 down : when a tree falls, it is taken away, and another planted in its 

 place. 



The daily occupation of these natives will serve to give an estimate 

 of their character, and would seem to be necessary before speaking of 

 their customs. 



They rise at daylight, wash their face, hands, and teeth, with 



vol. v. 24 



