570 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
and brows with the instrument set with shark’s teeth^ 
received the flowing blood on a piece of native cloth^ 
and deposited the cloth, sprinkled with the mingled 
blood of the mothers of the married pair, at the feet of 
the bride. 
By the latter parts of the ceremony, any inferiority 
of rank that might have existed was removed, and they 
were considered as equal. The two families, also, to 
which they respectively belonged, were ever afterwards 
regarded as one. Another large piece of cloth, called 
the tapoi^ covering, was now brought, and the ceremony 
concluded by the relatives throwing it over the bride¬ 
groom and bride. . 
The cloth used on these occasions, as well as the dress, 
was considered sacred, and was taken to the king, or ap¬ 
propriated to the use of the Areois. The parties returned 
to their habitation, where sumptuous feasting followed, 
the duration of which was according to the rank or means 
of the families thus united. ^ 
Such were the marriage ceremonies formerly observed 
among the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands. There 
was much in them curious and affecting, especially in 
the blood of their parents, and the skulls of their ances¬ 
tors, presented before the parties. The one, perhaps, as 
the emblem of their union, and the other as witnesses of 
the agreement. Considering these, and the other signi¬ 
ficant usages, it is truly surprising how a people, so un¬ 
civilized and rude as in many respects they certainly 
were, should ever have instituted observances so 
singular and impressive, in connexion with the marriage 
contract. 
Notwithstanding all this ceremony and form in enter- 
tering into the engagement, the marriage tie was pro- 
