FUNERAL OF TAAROARII. 243 
valley, the mourning tribes, the father, and the 
mother, with their children, were seen advancing 
slowly to the spot. Each individual in the whole 
procession, which, as they walked only two abreast, 
extended from the populehite to the valley, wore 
some badge of mourning; frequently it was a white 
ézputa, or mantle, with a 1 wide black fringe. 
When the greater part had reached the chapel 
yard, Mr. Barff addressed the spectators, and I 
offered a prayer to the Almighty, that the mournful 
event might be made a blessing to the survivors. 
The body was then deposited in the tomb—the pall 
left on the coffin. The father, the widow, and 
several other friends, entered, took a last glance, 
and retired in silence, under strong and painful 
emotion. When we withdrew, the servants placed 
a large stone against the entrance, and left it till 
the following day, when it was walled up. The 
tomb was whitewashed, and a small coral stone 
placed perpendicularly, at the end towards the sea, 
on which was inscribed in the native language, this 
simple epitaph, ‘‘ Taaroarii died October 25th, 
1821.” On the Sollowing Sabbath, a discourse 
was delivered from .% Kings xx. 1. in reference to 
the solemn event. 
I never saw persons more deeply affected than 
the friends of the deceased had been during his 
illness, especially his excellent father, and his 
wife. For many days prior to his death, the latter 
sat by his couch, supporting his aching head in 
her Jap, wiping the cold perspiration from his 
brow, or refreshing him with her fan, watching 
with fondest solicitude his look, and aiming, if 
possible, to anticipate his wishes. It ended not 
with his decease. She scarcely left his body until 
it was interred, sitting on one side, while his aunt, 
R 2 
