CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 95 
take a parting kiss, after which the living body is covered up, first 
with mats and tapa wrapped around the head, and then with sticks 
and earth, which are trodden down. When this has been done, all 
retire, and are tabooed, as will be stated in describing their ordinary 
funerals. The succeeding night, the son goes privately to the grave, 
and lays upon it a piece of ava-root, which is called the vei-tala or 
farewell. 
Mr. Hunt, one of the missionaries, had been a witness of several of 
these acts. On one occasion, he was called upon by a young man, 
who desired that he would pray to his spirit for his mother, who was 
dead. Mr. Hunt was at first in hopes that this would afford him an 
opportunity of forwarding their great cause. On inquiry, the young 
man told him that his brothers and himself were just going to bury 
her. Mr. Hunt accompanied the young man, telling him he would 
follow in the procession, and do as he desired him, supposing, of 
course, the corpse would be brought along; but he now met the pro- 
cession, when the young man said that this was the funeral, and 
pointed out his mother, who was walking along with them, as gay and 
lively as any of those present, and apparently as much pleased. Mr. 
Hunt expressed his surprise to the young man, and asked how he 
could deceive him so much by saying his mother was dead, when she 
was alive and well. He said, in reply, that they had made her death- 
feast, and were now going to bury her; that she was old; that his 
brother and himself had thought she had lived long enough, and it was 
time to bury her, to which she had willingly assented, and they were 
about it now. He had come to Mr. Hunt to ask his prayers, as they 
did those of the priest. He added, that it was from love for his 
mother that he had done so; that, in consequence of the same love, 
they were now going to bury her, and that none but themselves could 
or ought to do so sacred an office! Mr. Hunt did all in his power to 
prevent so diabolical an act; but the only reply he received was, that 
she was their mother, and they were her children, and they ought to 
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 
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