ing violence on the property and
person of an enemy; and everything that any one possessed was liable to
be taken from him. Their grief was expressed by the most shocking
personal outrages, not only by tearing off their clothes entirely, but
by knocking out their eyes and teeth with clubs and stones, and pulling
out their hair, and by burning and cutting their flesh; while
drunkenness, riot, and every species of debauchery continued to be
indulged in for days after the death of the deceased."[147] To the same
effect Ellis writes that "as soon as the chief had expired, the whole
neighbourhood exhibited a scene of confusion, wickedness, and cruelty,
seldom witnessed even in the most barbarous society. The people ran to
and fro without their clothes, appearing and acting more like demons
than human beings; every vice was practised, and almost every species of
crime perpetrated. Houses were burnt, property plundered, even murder
sometimes committed, and the gratification of every base and savage
feeling sought without restraint. Injuries or accidents, long forgotten
perhaps by the offending party, were now revenged with unrelenting
cruelty."[148] According to Jarves, the early historian of Hawaii, on
these occasions no women were exempt from violation except the widows of
the deceased.[149]

[147] C. S. Stewart, _Residence in the Sandwich Islands_, pp.
165 _sq._

[148] W. Ellis, _Polynesian Researches_, iv. 177.

[149] J. J. Jarves, _History of the Hawaiian or Sandwich
Islands_, p. 66. Compare J. Remy, _op. cit._ p. xlvii.

Such outbursts of passion, released from all restraints of custom or
law, are not unknown elsewhere on the occasion of a death. Among the
Ba-ila of Northern Rhodesia it is customary at funerals for the women to
sing lewd songs. "Under ordinary circumstances it would be reckoned
taboo for women to utter such things in the presence of men; but at
funerals all restraints are removed. People do as they like. Grass may
be plucked out of the thatched roofs; the fields may be robbed of the
growing corn; all passions are let loose; and no complaint for damage,
theft, or adultery can be made. This last item used to be the case;
nowadays fines are claimed."[150]

[150] E. W. Smith and A. M. Dale, _The Ila-speaking Peoples of
Northern Rhodesia_ (London, 1920), ii. 113 _sq._

The number of human victims sacrificed at the death of a chief varied
with his rank. For a king of Hawaii t