of people.
A horrid solemnity indeed! and which is a most significant instance of
the influence of gloomy and ignorant superstition, over the minds of one
of the most benevolent and humane nations upon earth. On enquiring into
the reasons of so barbarous a practice, they only said, that it was a
necessary part of the _Natche_, and that, if they omitted it, the Deity
would certainly destroy their king.

Before the assembly broke up, the day was far spent; and as we were at
some distance from the ships, and had an intricate navigation to go
through, we were in haste to set out from Mooa. When I took leave of
Poulaho, he pressed me much to stay till the next day, to be present at
a funeral ceremony. The wife of Mareewagee, who was mother-in-law to the
king, had lately died, and her corpse had, on account of the _Natche_,
been carried on board a canoe that lay in the _lagoon_. Poulaho told me,
that, as soon as he had paid the last offices to her, he would attend me
to Eooa, but, if I did not wait, he would follow me thither. I
understood at the same time, that, if it had not been for the death of
this woman, most of the chiefs would have accompanied us to that island,
where, it seems, all of them have possessions. I would gladly have
waited to see this ceremony also, had not the tide been now favourable
for the ships to get through the narrows. The wind besides, which, for
several days past, had been very boisterous, was now moderate and
settled, and to have lost this opportunity, might have detained us a
fortnight longer. But what was decisive against my waiting, we
understood that the funeral ceremonies would last five days, which was
too long a time, as the ships lay in such a situation, that I could not
get to sea at pleasure. I, however, assured the king, that, if we did
not sail, I should certainly visit him again the next day. And so we all
took leave of him, and set out for the ships, where we arrived about
eight o'clock in the evening.

I had forgot to mention, that Omai was present at this second day's
ceremony as well as myself, but we were not together, nor did I know
that he was there, till it was almost over. He afterward told me, that,
as soon as the king saw that I had stolen out from the plantation, he
sent several people, one after another, to desire me to come back.
Probably, these messengers were not admitted to the place where I was,
for I saw nothing of them. At last, intelligence was brought to the