g them in the box
containing the body of the deceased. The box was then lowered into the
grave, each relative throwing a shovelful of dirt upon it, and others
followed, quickly filling up the cavity. The throng then returned to
their huts with manifest eagerness, to participate in a grand feast.
After the burial is completed the grave is placed under what is termed
"tapu,"--or in other words the spot is made sacred, to be avoided
always; to tread upon it is considered a desecration.

We were told that formerly the burial ceremony of a chief involved the
sacrifice of at least one human life. If the tribe had a prisoner of war
on hand, his life sufficed. After sprinkling his blood upon the grave,
his body was roasted and eaten at the grand feast which followed. The
Maori "wakes" his dead after the Irish fashion, the revel lasting as
long as the money holds out, and almost any excess is condoned on these
occasions, which are characterized by the strangest and most weird
dances, the wildest shouts and wailings, the most fantastic distortion
of body and limbs that can be conceived of. On the occasion at which we
were present the performers, especially the women, seemed to us for the
time being to lose their reason, and to become maniacs, exciting one
another to a state of frenzy. To listen to the native _tangi_, or wail
for the dead, one would think it represented the most natural and
heart-broken grief, accompanied as it is by a copious fall of tears; but
this is all pretence. It is wonderful how these Maori women can summon
such perfect showers of tears at will; we saw them shed Niagaras of
brine, which of course deceived no one. It was as purely a mechanical
operation as is the work of a hydraulic ram. A wail of grief is started
by some one among the mourners, when it is taken up and continued for
hours by the others, now one and now another prolonging the note with
unabated vigor. Though realizing that this is so largely mere pretence,
one cannot listen to the sad note of the _tangi_ without a corresponding
sense of sorrowful emotion. The present occasion being the decease of a
great man among them, drew forth the most exaggerated expressions, and
the wailing was at times almost deafening.

The Lake House, presided over by the intelligent and lady-like Mrs.
Graham, afforded us every comfort as well as admirable service, hardly
to be anticipated in so isolated a spot. The window of our chamber
overlooked Lake Rotorua; an