428 BERGH'S GROUP. [1830. 



ease as some of our best swimmers will go down in three fathoms, 

 and bring any thing from the bottom. 



With respect to the religious ideas of these islanders, the little infor- 

 mation I obtained may be communicated in a few words. They 

 believe that all things are created by some wise and powerful Being, 

 who rules over and governs the whole, and whose residence is above 

 the stars ; that he watches over all his children, and all animated 

 things, with paternal care and affection ; that he provides food for man, 

 for the birds, fish, and insects ; the most minute being intended to feed 

 the larger, and the whole to sustain the human race ; that the Creator 

 waters these islands with his own hand, by pouring down seasonable 

 rains from above ; that he planted the cocoanut-tree, the bread-fruit, 

 and all the other trees, together with every shrub, plant, and spire of 

 grass ; that good actions are pleasing to him, but that bad actions make 

 him angry ; that they shall be happy or miserable hereafter, according 

 to their conduct in this life ; that the good will then live on a group of 

 lovely islands, still more pleasant and beautiful than their own, while 

 the bad shall be separated from them, and transported to some rocky 

 desolate island where there are no cocoanuts, nor bread-fruit, nor fresh 

 water, nor fish, nor a single vestige of vegetation. They have no 

 temples, churches, or forms of worship ; but say they love the Supreme 

 Being for his goodness to them. 



They hold the marriage contract to be a sacred and binding obliga- 

 tion ; and that it must be solemnized either in presence of the king, or 

 one of his majesty's principal chiefs duly authorized and delegated for 

 that purpose. Previous to this contract being made, no restraint is 

 imposed upon either party, and the unmarried woman may bestow 

 her favours on whom she pleases, without incurring censure, or 

 feeling conscious of doing wrong. But once married, and a false 

 step is infamy. A pregnant female, married or unmarried, is looked 

 upon with respect and honour ; while she herself, with conscious pride 

 of her own fruitfulness, is very far from taking any pains to conceal 

 her situation. A young native in search of a wife generally gives 

 the preference to one who has already given such incontrovertible 

 evidence of her ability to build him up a family. 



Their funeral rites are also somewhat singular and peculiar. On 

 the decease of a near relative, they abstain from all kinds of food for 

 forty-eight hours ; and for one month afterward, they take nothing but 

 fruit, depriving themselves entirely of fish, which is their greatest 

 luxury. For the loss of a parent, or a conjugal partner, they also 

 retire in solitude to the mountains, for three months. But duty now 

 compels me to add another circumstance, which for the honour of 

 human nature, I wish could be omitted consistently with truth. — 

 The death of the king, or a principal chief, is always celebrated by 

 human sacrifices ! Several men, women, and children are selected as 

 his honorary attendants to the world of spirits ; and they are proud of 

 the distinction, for they are buried in the same grave with him ! On 

 these occasions, and for two months after the funeral obsequies of a 

 chief, not a canoe is allowed to float upon the water. A few humane 

 missionaries would soon dispel this dark cloud of superstition. 



