FUNEEAL CEREMONY. 
53 
several days, died this morning ; the others, however, 
required hut rest, and a little prudence in the use of 
their returning strength and appetite. Although we 
made considerable advance iu getting the ship in 
order, we were obliged to use much caution, as several 
men, even with gentle work and slight exertion, 
had become ill again, though it was principally ague, 
to which all who had the remittent fever were 
subject. 
Sunday, October 2>\st . — While we were at divine 
service an American barque stood in towards the 
roads, but took no further notice of us than to show 
her colours. A few of the convalescent were allowed 
to go on shore for a little exercise ; but some of them 
proved unworthy of the indulgence by staying all 
night, at the imminent risk of relapse, as they got 
drunk upon palm wine ; which, though a very whole- 
some beverage when fresh, is pernicious when it has 
begun to ferment. With all the care that could be 
taken, it was impossible to prevent the natives from 
bringing it under the bows at night for sale. 
We witnessed part of a funeral ceremony for a 
woman who had died the evening before; though being- 
engaged with magnetic observations we lost the begin- 
ning. All the people were found assembled in a semi- 
circle at the front of a house, singing, or rather screech- 
ing, most hideously. A man in the middle poised 
a cross at least twenty feet high, which was rather a 
difficult performance, for, being as thin as a lath, it 
