AND TAPUS, ABOLISHED, 243 
mercy thus set, at the death of this great warrior, 
will be universally followed.” ^ 
Another effect of the Gospel, even when par- 
tially embraced, is, that their tapus and other 
superstitious observances fall into disuse. In 
many places, they are altogether thrown aside, 
and on no account regarded. When it is consi- 
dered what a hold these tapus had upon their 
minds, and to what they sometimes led, the 
abolition of them must be considered as a great 
point gained. Instead now of being terrified at 
every marvellous tale which they hear, they are 
led to question the truth of the fables which they 
formerly believed. — I will here relate a few 
instances of the superstitious practice of tapus 
• How bitterly hopeless, as well as atrociously cruel, were 
the feelings of those bereaved of their dearest relatives by 
death, may be gathered from the following description, ex- 
tracted from my Journal, under date of December 4th, 1830 : — 
“ I went up the hill, to endeavour to administer consolation to 
31 awe ; but he refused to be comforted, because his child ^ was 
not’ ; it having died about two hours before. The scene was 
most melancholy. Here was the corpse, placed up in a corner, 
and gaudily dressed with feathers and other finery: there was 
the father, prostrate at its feet, weeping bitterly, and bleeding 
in many places from self-inflicted wounds. Next to him sat 
the mother, singing a mournful lamentation over the dead 
body of her son, and accompanying every stanza with a deep 
gash across her neck or arms, with a piece of glass. Around, 
were three friends and relatives, falling in with the chorus, 
and wounding themselves in a dreadful manner. At a little 
distance was a man preparing to kill a slave, as a satisfaction 
to the manes of the departed. I reasoned with him upon the 
subject; and he promised to desist from his bloody purpose: 
whether he will or not, remains to be proved. The scene alto- 
gether was most agonizing: there seemed to be no hope, no 
consolation, for the bereaved parents. 
M 2 
