534 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
and white. They were armed with a club or cudgel, 
and proceeded through the district, seizing and beating 
every person they met with out of doors. All who saw 
their approach instantly fled, or hid themselves. 
They did not enter any of the dwellings, but often 
struck them as they passed by, to the great terror of 
those within. They appeared and acted as if they were 
deranged, and were supposed to be inspired by the spirit 
of the deceased, to revenge any injury he might have 
received, or to punish those who had not shewn due 
respect to his remains. 
Since the introduction of Christianity, these and other 
barbarous and heathen customs j in connexion with the 
death and burial of the natives, have ceased; the rites 
and usages of Christian burial, as far as it seemed 
desirable, or the circumstances of the people would 
admit, have been introduced, and are generally observed. 
At each of the Missionary stations, a piece of ground 
near the sea-shore, and at some distance from the houses, 
has been devoted by the government to the purposes of 
interment, and all who die near are buried there. 
Those who die in the remote districts are buried by 
their friends near the place ; sometimes in the vicinity 
of their little rustic chapel, at others in the garden near 
their dwelling. They are not always deposited in a 
coffin, as the survivors are often destitute of boards and 
nails; they are, however, decently interred, usually 
wrapped in native cloth and matting, and placed in the 
keel or lower part of a canoe. 
If there be a native Missionary or teacher near, he is 
called to officiate at the interment; if not, a male branch 
of the family usually offers up a prayer when the body 
is committed to the earth. Some inconvenience was 
