TOWARDS THE DECEASED. 
137 
the forehead; and the cut extends, in a curve, all 
down the face, on either side : the legs, arms, and 
chest are then most miserably scratched ; and the 
breasts of the women, who cut themselves more 
extensively and deeper than the men, are some- 
times wofully gashed. The noise made during 
the time of this self-inflicted torment is truly 
affecting, and gives you an idea of boisterous 
sorrow nowhere else to be found. The cry is 
most hideous ; and as one discordant note mingles 
with another, the mind naturally reverts to that 
place of outer darkness, where there is nothing but 
“ weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.’" 
— Prayers of different kinds having been uttered, 
and three days from the death having expired, the 
box which contains the corpse is either suspended 
from the branch of a tree, or is placed upon a stage 
erected for the purpose, upon a couple of poles 
about nine feet high. This being completed, other 
lamentations are chaunted ; the persons who car- 
ried the corpse, and those who dressed the hair, 
and all, indeed, who did any thing to it, proceed to 
tlie first stream, and plunge themselves several 
times over head in the water. The sacred food 
is then placed in the ovens : this the chiefs them- 
selves cook; and none others are allowed to 
taste of it, till the expiration of two days ; when 
men, women, and children, bond and free, pro- 
miscuously partake of it ; and the tapu ceases. 
No further notice is then taken of the deceased, 
till the Hahunga, a grand annual feast ; when the 
