They were then conducted by King George
to his huts on the beach; and in the enclosure
in front of them the warriors squatted on
the ground. Shunghie, being tabooed, or
under the immediate protection of their Atna
or God, still sat apart. Then the mother of
George, called Tururo, or the Queen, and who
is regarded quite as a sybil by the whole tribe,
approached Shunghie with the greatest respect
and caution, and seated herself some paces
from his feet. She then began, with a most
melancholy cadence (her eyes streaming with
tears and fixed upon the ground), the song of
welcome. All their meetings of ceremony or
friendship begin with the shedding of copious
floods of tears; and as Shunghie’s visit was
such an unhoped for and unexpected honour,
so much greater in proportion was the necessity
for their lamentations. This woeful song „
lasted half an hour, and all the assembly were
soon in tears; and though at first I was inclined
to turn it into ridicule, I was soon in
the same state myself. The pathetic strain,
and the scene altogether, was most impressive.
As the song proceeded, I was informed of
the nature of the subject, which was a theme
highly calculated to affect all present. She
began by complimenting the wounded warrior,
deploring the incurable state of his
wound, and regretting that God was wanting
him, and was about so soon to take him from
his friends! Then she recounted some of his
most celebrated deeds of valour; naming and
deploring the number of his friends who had
fallen bravely in the wars, and lamenting that
the enemies who had killed them were still
living! This part seemed to affect them powerfully;
and when Tururo ceased her song
(being quite exhausted) they all rose, thus demonstrating
their respect and approbation.
This was followed by a general attack upon
the good things King George had prepared
for them. The slaves came flocking in, bearing
baskets of hot cumeras, potatoes, and fish.
I observed their tears had not spoiled their
appetites: they ate voraciously. After having
done great honour to the feast, they all started
on their feet for a dance, which lasted a long
while, and with which they concluded tha-
evening.
f 3