1 
The Night of Heathenism, 221 
begged him to Move me, and prevent any more women 
from being strangled, as he could not, by multiplying the 
dead, render any benefit to his father.' He replied, 'There 
are only two now murdered, but they shall suffice. Were 
you missionaries not here, we would make an end to all the 
women sitting around.* The grave had been dug already 
by the people of the place, and lined with mats, on which 
the Tongans laid the bodies of the women, and on them 
the once powerful chief. The shell ornaments were taken 
off his person, which was then covered with cloths and mats, 
and the earth heaped upon him. He was heard to cough 
after a considerable quantity of soil had been thrown in the 
grave. These latter particulars I received from those who 
buried him, as I could not by my presence sanction the 
unnatural deed." 
In the case of chiefs being drowned at sea, or being 
slain, or eaten, in war, the same dreadful custom was car- 
ried out, and, in many cases, the widows would beg to be 
strangled, to escape from the ill-treatment which would have 
been their lot had they survived. In other cases, where the 
women have had a gUmmering of the light of Christianity, 
and have feared the dark future, they have begged for life 
piteously, but in very few cases, except with the connivance 
of the executioner, has this been accomplished or granted. 
One poor heathen woman, whose children were Christians, 
very much wished for death ; indeed, upon the death of her 
husband, she resolutely demanded it. Her children visited 
her, and endeavoured to dissuade her from her purpose, 
placing before her the dreadful eternity to which she was 
going. She replied : " I know it. As certainly as I die, I 
shall go to the flaming fire ! but there is no remedy : there 
is no one to procure my reprieve.'^ In other cases, the male 
relatives have urged the widow's murder, in order to take 
