rating the obsequies of a chief in a manner
worthy of his rank.[90]

[84] Mathias G----, _op. cit._ pp. 114. _sq._; Eyriaud des
Vergnes, _op. cit._ p. 58. Compare Radiguet, _op. cit._ pp. 260
_sqq._

[85] C. S. Stewart, _op. cit._ i. 263; Vincendon-Dumoulin et C.
Desgraz, _op. cit._ pp. 249 _sq._

[86] Radiguet, _op. cit._ p. 284; Clavel, _op. cit._ p. 39.

[87] Porter, _op. cit._ ii. 121.

[88] Radiguet, _op. cit._ pp. 283 _sq._ Another writer mentions
that at the moment of death it was customary for a number of
matrons to strip themselves naked and execute obscene dances at
the door of the house, crying out at the pitch of their voices,
"Father! father!" See Mathias G----, _op. cit._ p. 116.

[89] Melville, _Typee_, pp. 180, 201.

[90] Clavel, _op. cit._ pp. 43 _sq._

The soul of the dead was believed not to abandon the corpse definitely
for two days after the death. In the interval it was thought to haunt
the house, watching the conduct of the survivors, and ready to act as a
friend or a foe according as the mourners behaved towards the deceased
and his remains. Hence, to keep the ghost in good humour it was
customary to offer him food, in the shape of breadfruit paste and other
dainties, which were wrapped up in leaves, hung on the edge of the
coffin, and frequently renewed.[91] On the third night after the death a
priest, stepping out on the terrace in front of the house, implored the
wandering soul of the deceased to depart; and by way of enforcing the
request a band of men, armed with spears and other lethal weapons, went
about in the outer darkness, beating the bushes and stabbing the
thatched roofs of the houses in order to drive the lingering ghost away.
If, roused by the clamour, the dogs began to bark, the priest would say,
"The soul is departing."[92]

[91] Clavel, _op. cit._ p. 46.

[92] Radiguet, _op. cit._ pp. 284 _sq._

From the moment of death till the priests had completed the litany or
songs chanted on such occasions, all the assembled people fasted, no one
touched the provisions collected for the funeral feast, and no fire
might be kindled within sight of the house.[93] The litany consisted in
the mumbling of a long speech in an unintelligible language accompanied
by the constant beating of drums.[94] Among the victuals provided for
the funeral feast special importance appears to have been attached to
the head of a pig, wh