mane nations upon earth. On inquiring into the reafons
of fo barbarous a pra&ice, they only faid, that it was a ne-
ceflary part of the Natche-, and that, if they omitted it, the
Deity would certainly deftroy their king.
Before the affembly broke up, the day was far fpent \ and
as we were at fome diftance from the ihips, and had an intricate
navigation to go through, we were in hafte to fet out
from Mooa. When I took leave of Poulaho, he preiTed me
much to ftay till the next day, to be prefent at a funeral ceremony.
The wife of Mareewagee, who was mother in-law
to the king, had lately died ; and her corpfe had, on account
Of the Natche, been carried on board a canoe^that lay in
the lagoon. Poulaho told me, that, as foon as he had paid the
laft offices to her, he would attend me to Eooa ; but, if I did
not wait, that he would follow- me thither. I underftood,
at the fame time, that, if it had not been-for the death of
this woman, moft of the Chief s-would have accompanied us
to that ifland; where, it feems, all of them have poffeffions.
I would gladly have waited to fee this ceremony alfo, had
not the tide been now favourable for the ihips to get
through the narrows. The wind, befides, which, for fever
al days pail, had been very boiilerous, was now moderate
and fettled; and to have loft this opportunity, might
have detained us a fortnight longer. But what was de-
ciiive againft my waiting, we underftood that the funeral
ceremonies would laft five days, which was too long a time,
as the ihips lay in fuch a fituation, that I could not get to
fea at pleafure. I, however, allured the king, that, if we
did not fail, I ffiould certainly vifit him again the next day.
And fo we all took leave of him, and fet out for the ihips,
where we arrived about eight o’clock in the evening.
I had forgot to mention, that Omai was prefent at this fe- ||7-
cond day’s ceremony, as well as myfelf; but we were not t——v—
together; nor did I know that he was there, till it was al-
moft over. He afterward told me, that, as foon as the
king faw that I had ftolen out from the plantation, he fent
feveral people, one after another, to defire me to come back.
Probably, thefe meilengers were not admitted to the place
where I was.; for I faw nothing of them. At laft, intelligence
was brought to the Chief, that I had actually ftrip-
ped, in conformity to their cuftom ; and then he told Omai,
that he might be prefent alfo, if he would comply with all
the neceflary forms. Omai had no objection, as nothing
was required of him, but to conform to the cuftom of his
own country. Accordingly, he was furniffied with a proper
drefs, and appeared at the ceremony as one of the natives.
It is likely, that one reafpn of our being excluded at firff,
was an apprehenfion, that we would not fubmit to the re-
quifites to qualify us to affift.
While I was attending the Natche at Mooa, I ordered the
horfes, bull and cow, and goats,- to be brought thither;
thinking that they would be fafer there, under the eyes of
the Chiefs, than at a place that would be, in a manner, deferred,
the moment after our departure. Befides thS above-
mentioned animals, we left, with our friends here, a young
boar, and three young fows, of the Engliffi breed. They
were exceedingly defirous of them, judging, no doubt, that
they would greatly improve their own breed, which is rather
fmall. Feenou alfo got from us two rabbits, a buck
and a doe ; and, bdfore we failed, we were told, that young
ones had been already produced. If the ,cattle fucceed, of
which I make no doubt, it will be a vaft acquifition to thefe
Mol. I. H Z z iftands ;