MODES OF INTERMENT. 
245 
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 sustained when the 
natives first embraced Christianity, with regard to 
the burial of those who died at a distance from the 
Missionary station. The heat of the climate was 
often such as rendered it necessary to inter them 
on the day of their decease, or on that which fol¬ 
lowed, and they had not time to send for a native 
teacher. To obviate this, a prayer suitable to be 
offered up at the time of interment was written, 
and distributed among the natives, for the use of 
those who resided at a distance. This appeared 
not only according to Christian propriety, but 
necessary, to guard against any latent influence of 
the former superstitions, which might lurk in the 
minds of those who, though they renounced ido¬ 
latry, were but very partially instructed in many 
points of Christian doctrine. 
At the Missionary stations, the corpse has sel¬ 
dom been brought to the place of worship. We 
in general repair to the house, and, offering up a 
prayer with the family, accompany the procession 
to the place of interment; our practice, however, 
