Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/447

Rh THE TONGA ISLANDS. 381 weeping genuine tears of regret ; the upper part of their cheeks perfectly black, and swollen so that they could hardly see, with the con- stant blows they had infiicted on themselves with their fists ; and their breasts, also, were equally bruised with their own misplaced and untimely rage. Among the chiefs and matabooles who were seated on the maldh all those who were particu- larly attached to the late king, or to his cause, evinced their sorrow by a conduct, usual, in- deed, among these people at the death of a re- lation, or of a great chief (unless it be that of Tooitonga, or any of his family), but which, to us, may well appear barbarous in the extreme ; that is to say, the custom of cutting and wounding themselves with clubs, stones, knives, or sharp shells : one at a time, or two or three together, would run into the middle of the circle, formed by the spectators, to give these proofs of their extreme sorrow for the death, and great respect for the memory of their departed friend. The sentiments expressed by these victims of popular superstition were to the following purpose : Finow ! I know well your mind ; " you have departed to Bolotoo '^, and left your
 * Paradise,