402 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777. fliark s tooth into the head until the blood flows in fbreams, 
and thruft lpears into the inner part of the thigh, into their 
tides below the arm-pits, and through the cheeks into the 
mouth. All thefe operations convey an idea of fuch ri¬ 
gorous difcipline, as muft require either an uncommon 
degree of affection, or the groffelf fuperftition, to exaft. 
I will not fay, that the lalt has no lhare in it; for, fome- 
times, it is fo univerfal, that many could not have any 
knowledge of the perfon for whom the concern is ex- 
preffed. Thus we faw the people of Tongataboo mourn¬ 
ing the death of a Chief at Vavaoo; and other fimilar 
inftances occurred during our ftay. It fhould be obferved, 
however, that the more painful operations are only prac- 
tifed on account of the death of thofe moft nearly con- 
nedted with the mourners. When a perfon dies, he is 
buried, after being wrapped up in mats and cloth, much 
after our manner. The Chiefs feem to have the jiatookas 
appropriated to them as their burial-places; but the com¬ 
mon people are interred in no particular fpot*. What 
part of the mourning ceremony follows, immediately after,, 
is uncertain ; but, that there is fomething belides the ge¬ 
neral one, which is continued for a confiderable length 
of time, we could infer, from being informed, that the 
funeral of Mareewagee’s wife, as mentioned before, was to 
be attended with ceremonies that were to laft five days ; 
and in which all the principal people were to commemo¬ 
rate her. 
* Cantova’s account of the practice of the Caroline Illands is as follows : £c Lorfqu’il 
u meurt quelque perfonne d’un rang diftingue, ou qui leur eft chere par d’autres endroits, 
l( fes obfeques fe font avec pompe. 11 y en a qui renferment le corps du defunct dans 
“ un petit edifice de pierre, qu’ils gardent au-dedans de leur maifons. D’autres Ies 
enterrent loin de leurs habitations.” Lettres Edifiantes ft Curieufes, Tom. xv. 
p. 308, 309. 
Their 
