ck out her teeth on the death of her husband, and a son did not thus
express his grief for the loss of his parents, nor they for the death of
a child.[142]

[139] W. Ellis, _op. cit._ iv. 175 _sqq._, 181. Compare U.
Lisiansky, _op. cit._ p. 123; A. Campbell, _op. cit._ pp. 142
_sq._; J. Remy, _op. cit._ p. xlvii.

[140] C. S. Stewart, _Residence in the Sandwich Islands_, p.
166; J. J. Jarves, _op. cit._ pp. 65 _sq._

[141] W. Ellis, _op. cit._ iv. 177, 180 _sq._

[142] W. Ellis, _op. cit._ iv. 180.

Similar extravagances in the expression of grief were commonly exhibited
by mourners, as we have seen, in other parts of Polynesia; but in Hawaii
the rites observed at the death of a king or high chief were in so far
peculiar that they assumed the character of a Saturnalia or orgy of
unbridled lust and crime. On this subject the Russian navigator
Lisiansky, who visited the islands while the ancient system of
superstition was still in full vogue, reports as follows: "On the death
of the king, a scene of horror takes place that is hardly credible.
Twelve men are sacrificed; and shortly after the whole island abandons
itself for a month to the utmost disorder and licentiousness. During
this period, both sexes go entirely naked, and men cohabit with women
without any distinction: the woman who should dare to make resistance,
would be considered as violating the laws of the country. The same
licentiousness is observed on the death of a noble; but it does not
extend beyond the domains of the deceased, and is of a much shorter
duration, not continuing, as Mr. Young informed me, more than a few
days, though attempts are made by the youth of the party to prolong the
period. Those who are put to death on the demise of the king, or any
great personage, are such as have offered themselves for the purpose
during the life of their master; and they are in consequence considered
and treated by him as his best friends, since they have sworn to live
and die with him. When I reflect upon the horrid nature of this
ceremony, I hardly know how to credit its existence amongst a race of
men so mild and good as these islanders in general appear to be; but Mr.
Young, whose veracity I had no reason to doubt, assured me of the
fact."[143]

[143] U. Lisiansky, _Voyage round the World_, pp. 122 _sq._

This John Young, who gave Lisiansky information as to the customs and
religion of the Hawaiians, was an Englishman