Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/185

 MAI^EES AXD CUSTOMS. 155 sects off him. Thus ^vas Tuithakau carried to Weilangi, to the sepulchre of the Kings. Tongans were appointed to bury the King. The grave had been dug by the people of the place, and lined with mats, on which the Ton- gans laid the bodies of the women, and on them the once powerful Chief. The shell ornaments were taken off his person, which was then covered with cloth and mats, and the earth heaped upon him. He was heard to cough afler a considerable quantity of soil had been thrown in the grave. These latter particulars I received from those who buried him, as I could not, by my presence, seem to sanction the unnatural deed. On the death of the Tuithakau, it is customary to strangle his herald : the present one, however, escaped, smce he only officiated as deputy for the proper one. A family on the opposite coast — Vanua Levu — enjoys the privilege of supplying a hale man to be buried with the King, that he may go before, and hold the Fijian Cerberus. On the present occa- sion, no such man could be found, and the old Chief was even sent to meet the dangers of the gloomy path without a club. Next day, the Icana-hoji, or fasting till evening, commenced. This is observed during ten or twenty days. Many made themselves " bald for the dead ; " some by shearing the head only, others by cutting off whiskers and beard as well. Females burnt their bodies, and or- ders were issued that one hundred fingers should be cut off; but only sixty were amputated, one woman losing her life in consequence. The fingers, being each inserted m a slit reed, were stuck along the eaves of the King's house. Toes are never taken off for this purpose. Some, to express their grief, merely make bare the crown of the head. The following ceremonies were confused and boisterous. Companies of young men danced, shouted, and made perfect uproar for several successive nights. The blindfolded lads tried to hit the hanging water- vessel, and, if successful, were to become great warriors. The common ' women, at this time, are not allowed to eat flesh or fish ; and the chief wife, for three months following, may not touch her own food with her hands. The coast for four miles was made tahu, so that no one might fish there ; and the nuts, for at least six miles, were made sacred. Eeal sorrow, among these people, is sometimes indicated by ab- stinence from fruit, fish, or other pleasant food, for several months to- gether, or by the use of leaves for dress, instead of any manufactured clothing. Denying themselves the luxury of oil on their bodies, or a mat to lie on, and lying whole nights on the grave of their friend, are other modes of expressing grief. The native word for " widow " refers to the practice of women neglecting to dress their heads for some time 11