Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV. The National Dance--The Wedding--Death of the Princess--War with Nakelo--The Lunatic--Evil Spirits--The Alarm--Strangling of a Woman at Bau. Dec. 24. Hearing that a national dance was to be performed this evening by Retova and a part of the Geer tribe, who have lately arrived at Bau from Mathuata, and being desirous of witnessing it, I repaired to Bau about noon, in company with Mr. J. Reese, an assistant printer in the employ of the mission at Vewa. We first called at the house of the king, and found all the household engaged in preparing for the nuptials of the king's daughter with Navinde, which was to take place on the following day. The bride elect was receiving presents from the people of her tribe, consisting of mats, native cloth, sweet scented oils, baskets, beads, paint, scissors, knives, and many other things which Feejeeans value. Several hundreds of mats and bales of cloth, testified to the lady's rank, and the liberality of her people. We then called at the house of Tunitonga to see the princess, my little namesake, who, I had been informed, was sick. We found her very ill; indeed, she was probably dying. Her nurse desired me to present some vermillion to paint the little body after death. Two whales' teeth were placed at the feet of the child. When a child of rank dies, it is the custom to strangle one or more of its nurses to accompany it to the spirit land, as all Feejeeans have a great horror of dying alone. The spirits of the whales' teeth go with their spirits, while the teeth themselves are buried with the bodies in the grave. When the souls arrive at the spirit land, the nurse throws the teeth at a big dog, or some huge animal that may be standing in their way, because, if they had nothing to frighten...