Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1818 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. Ceremony of Finow's burial--Grief of his widows--Self inflictions of the mourners--Funeral procession to Felletoa-- The policy of the prince--Description of the grave, and ceremony of interment--Ceremonies after burial--Respect paid by persons in passing the grave--The prince's intimation to Voona that he should exile himself--The prince receives authority as How at a cava party--His noble speech on this occasion--Farther exhortations to his chiefs and matabooles respecting the cultivation of the country--Half mourning commences--The ceremony of the twentieth day after burial--The dance called Meetoo Buggi--Heroic behaviour of two boys at the grave--The late How's fishermen exhibit proofs of their affection for the deceased --Moral and political character of the late How--His personal character--A brief comparison between the characters of the late and present How. All the chiefs and matabooles were now assembled on the malai at Neafoo. Among the rest was Voona, to whom the prince went up, and intimated the necessity of removing the body of his father to Felletoa. It would have been thought very disrespectful if he had not mentioned this to Voona before he issued orders respecting it, because Voona was a very great chief, even greater than Finow himself, and such a reserve on such a public occasion, towards a superior, would have been an act offensive to the gods. It may appear strange that Voona was a greater chief than the son of the king, yet it is a frequent occurrence, that the king is chosen from a family not of the highest rank, on account of his superior wisdom or mir litary skill, and this was the case with the present royal family; so that the king is often obliged to pay a certain ceremonious respect (hereafter...
