]04 MANNERSANDCUSTOMSOF 



the floor of the house, and hold this plate, with the body of their friend, 

 on their knees. When tired, they are relieved by others, and in this 

 way the service is kept up for a space of time varying from four 

 months to two years, according to the rank of the deceased. All 

 persons, whether freeborn or slaves, receive this treatment after death. 

 During the continuance of this lying in state, a fire is kept constantly 

 burning, both day and night, in the house, and its extinction would be 

 regarded as a most unlucky omen.* At the end of the period, the 

 remains are sometimes wrapped in mats, and stowed away in the loft 

 of the house, but more commonly they are buried in a piece of ground 

 set apart for the purpose. The grave is marked with three stones, 

 one at the head, another at the foot, and one placed horizontally 

 across these. 



The skulls of the chiefs are preserved, and treated in the same way 

 as at the other islands. 



From diseases the natives appear to be tolerably free. Consump- 

 tions, and a kind of cholera morbus, are the most fatal. There were 

 no cases of elephantiasis seen ; but, as has been remarked in speaking 

 of the islands separately, the kind of cutaneous disorder called by the 

 natives gune, prevails extensively; this, at some stages of the disease, 

 resembles the ringworm. It begins with this appearance, in a small 

 circle, about an inch in diameter, covered with a scurf; the ring 

 gradually increases in size, and when it becomes large, a smaller one 

 forms within it ; as this last increases, another forms within it, and in 

 this way the affection continues to spread, unless arrested. Several 

 circles often form on the body within a short distance of each other, 

 the rings meet and become confluent, producing a variety of curved 

 lines, and concentrical circles. The whole body becomes at length 

 covered with this scurf, which is always attended by painful itching. 

 This finally passes off", and leaves the skin seamed with an infinity of 

 circles and wavy lines of a livid hue, and produces a most disgusting 

 appearance ; in this stage it sometimes continues during the remainder 

 of a person's life, without materially affecting his general health. At 

 other times it assumes a more virulent character, in which case large 

 excrescences like warts form, first on the face, or between the fingers 

 and toes, and then in other parts. The softer portions of the face and 

 body swell to double their natural size ; the person becomes unable to 

 walk, or to move his limbs, until death at length overtakes and releases 



* When the truth of this account was questioned, in consequence of the time that would 

 be employed by the natives, Wood readily answered, that " One half of them have nothing 

 else to do." 



