The honours they paid to the dead were very extravagant, and it
may even be considered as a senseless fanaticism inspired by inordi-
nate affection or by superstitious fear. Immediately after the death
of a relative the body was removed from the family dwelling, and was
carried on a hurdle to the funeral hut placed in front of the fai-toka



1 The tootoa mina consists in cutting off the first joint of the little finder anil
offering it to the gods, thus to obtain the recovery of a sick relative. The finger is
stretched upon a piece of wood, a cutting instrument is applied to the articulation
and a blow with a mallet or a stone finishes the operation. To staunch the blood
the amputated finger is exposed to the strong and thick vapour produced by burning
fresh grass. The wound is left two days without washing and it is then cleaned
The ceremony is repeated at every dangerous illness of a near relative D'TJrville's
Voyages, vol. iv., Part I., p. 315. A "



TONGAS. 125

or family tomb where it was deposited upon a quantity of bark cloth
spread upon the ground. The mortuary hut was closed with curtains
of coarse black gnatoo, reaching from the eaves to the ground. ' To
retard the putrefying process the body was rubbed with perfumed oil
of sandalwood, and the nearest relations and friends, who formed a
circle around it, indulged in the loudest demonstrations of grief.
