A VOYAGE TO 
benevolent and humane nations upon earth. On inquiring 
into the reafons of fo barbarous a practice, they only laid, 
that it was a neceffary part of the Natcbe ; and that, if 
they omitted it, the Deity would certainly deftroy their 
king. 
Before the alfembly broke up, the day was far fpent; and 
as we were at fome diftance from the fhips, and had an in¬ 
tricate navigation to go through, we were in hafte to fet out 
from Mooa. When I took leave of Poulaho, he preffed me 
much to ftay till the next day, to be prefent at a funeral ce¬ 
remony^ The wife of Mareewagee, who was mother-in-law 
to the king, had lately died; and her corpfe had, on account 
of the Natcbe , been carried on board a canoe that lay in 
the lagoon. Poulaho told me, that, as foon as he had paid the 
laft offices to her, he would attend me to Eooa; but, if I did 
not wait, that he would follow me thither. I underftood, 
at the lame time, that, if it had not been for the death of 
this woman, molt of the Chiefs would have accompanied us 
to that illand ; where, it feems, all of them have poffeffions. 
I would gladly have w r aited to fee this ceremony alfo, had 
not the tide been now favourable for the fhips to get 
through the narrows. The wind, belides, which, for feve- 
ral days pall, had been very boifterous, was now mode¬ 
rate and fettled; and to have loll this opportunity, might 
have detained us a fortnight longer. But what was deci- 
live againft my waiting, we underftood that the funeral ce¬ 
remonies would laft live days, which was too long a time, 
.as the drips lay in fuch a lituation, that I could not get to 
fea at pleafure. I, however, allured the king, that, if we 
did not fail, I ffiould certainly vifit him again the next day. 
And fo we all took leave of him, and fet out for the ffiips^ 
where we arrived about eight o’clock in the evening. 
I had 
