Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/191

Rh THE TONGA ISLANDS. 125 were never inquired after : Tooitonga generally takes care of them, and appropriates them to his own use, and that of his numerous household, not that he has any legal right to them beyond custom and silent consent. The hogs were dis- posed of in like manner : the greatest quantity to the greatest chiefs, who share them out to the chiefs immediately below them in rank, and these again to their dependants, till every man in the island gets at least a mouthful of pork and yam. The ceremony now concluded with dancing, wrestling, &c. after which, every per- son present having secured his portion, retired to his home to share it with his family. From this moment the taboo, or prohibition upon hogs, fowls, and cocoa-nuts, was null and void. The hogs and yams left at Tooitonga's grave, having remained there several days, (till the pork stunk,) were shared out, by order of Tooi- tonga, to all who chose to apply for a portion.. They belong indeed properly to the principal chiefs ; but as they are accustomed to feed upon meat in a better state of preservation, they forego their claims, and allow the lower orders to eat it for them. Mr. Mariner could not learn why the pork was thus left till it was scarcely eatable — the only answer he could get was, that such was the ancient custom. It may perhaps be considered an offering to Tooitonga*a ances-