Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/429

Rh th;pi tonga islands. 363 of this day, aiid the following night, the body- inclosed in the canoe, with the lid closely fast- ened down, remained in the house : in the mean time Finow issued orders for a general assembly of all the inhabitants of the island, to take place the ensuing morning before the house, and nobody to be absent under any pre- text whatsoever, not even that of illness.. Early the following day all the people, ac- cording to Finow's orders, assembled before the house, where there was a large supply of provisions and cava for the conclusion of the ceremony. In the mean time the body was conveyed to the Fytoca, where it was depo- sited, inside the house, without any pomp or form, not within the grave, but on the top of it, that Finow might see the coffin whenever he pleased, and take it away with him whenever he went to a distance. On this extraordinary occasion, which the caprice of Finow rendered a scene of rejoicing rather than of mourning, after the provisions apt to become very inflated^ it is the duty of a relation to prevent this happening to a great extent, by the practice of a most disgusting operation^ viz. making a hole in some part of the abdomen, and^ the mouth being applied, sucking out the putrescent fluids, and spitting them into a dish : and this is done out of love and affection for the deceased^ with- out any apparent signs of disgust ! Mr. Mariner had this from several natives of Hamoa.