roughing it-第86部分
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the women might dwell in seclusion。
〃The sick was once more taken to his house； when he expired； this
was at two o'clock； a circumstance from which Leleiohoku derived his
name。 As he breathed his last； Kalaimoku came to the eating house
to order those in it to go out。 There were two aged persons thus
directed to depart； one went； the other remained on account of love
to the King； by whom he had formerly been kindly sustained。 The
children also were sent away。 Then Kalaimoku came to the house； and
the chiefs had a consultation。 One of them spoke thus： 'This is my
thoughtwe will eat him raw。 ＇This sounds suspicious； in view of
the fact that all Sandwich Island historians； white and black；
protest that cannibalism never existed in the islands。 However；
since they only proposed to 〃eat him raw〃 we 〃won't count that〃。
But it would certainly have been cannibalism if they had cooked
him。M。 T。＇ Kaahumanu （one of the dead King's widows） replied；
'Perhaps his body is not at our disposal； that is more properly with
his successor。 Our part in himhis breathhas departed； his
remains will be disposed of by Liholiho。'
〃After this conversation the body was taken into the consecrated
house for the performance of the proper rites by the priest and the
new King。 The name of this ceremony is uko； and when the sacred hog
was baked the priest offered it to the dead body； and it became a
god； the King at the same time repeating the customary prayers。
〃Then the priest； addressing himself to the King and chiefs； said：
'I will now make known to you the rules to be observed respecting
persons to be sacrificed on the burial of this body。 If you obtain
one man before the corpse is removed； one will be sufficient； but
after it leaves this house four will be required。 If delayed until
we carry the corpse to the grave there must be ten； but after it is
deposited in the grave there must be fifteen。 To…morrow morning
there will be a tabu； and； if the sacrifice be delayed until that
time； forty men must die。'
〃Then the high priest； Hewahewa； inquired of the chiefs； 'Where
shall be the residence of King Liholiho？' They replied； 'Where；
indeed？ You； of all men； ought to know。' Then the priest observed；
'There are two suitable places； one is Kau； the other is Kohala。'
The chiefs preferred the latter； as it was more thickly inhabited。
The priest added； 'These are proper places for the King's residence；
but he must not remain in Kona； for it is polluted。' This was
agreed to。 It was now break of day。 As he was being carried to the
place of burial the people perceived that their King was dead； and
they wailed。 When the corpse was removed from the house to the
tomb； a distance of one chain； the procession was met by a certain
man who was ardently attached to the deceased。 He leaped upon the
chiefs who were carrying the King's body； he desired to die with him
on account of his love。 The chiefs drove him away。 He persisted in
making numerous attempts； which were unavailing。 Kalaimoka also had
it in his heart to die with him； but was prevented by Hookio。
〃The morning following Kamehameha's death； Liholiho and his train
departed for Kohala； according to the suggestions of the priest； to
avoid the defilement occasioned by the dead。 At this time if a
chief died the land was polluted； and the heirs sought a residence
in another part of the country until the corpse was dissected and
the bones tied in a bundle； which being done； the season of
defilement terminated。 If the deceased were not a chief； the house
only was defiled which became pure again on the burial of the body。
Such were the laws on this subject。
〃On the morning on which Liholiho sailed in his canoe for Kohala；
the chiefs and people mourned after their manner on occasion of a
chief's death； conducting themselves like madmen and like beasts。
Their conduct was such as to forbid description； The priests； also；
put into action the sorcery apparatus； that the person who had
prayed the King to death might die； for it was not believed that
Kamehameha's departure was the effect either of sickness or old age。
When the sorcerers set up by their fire…places sticks with a strip
of kapa flying at the top； the chief Keeaumoku； Kaahumaun's brother；
came in a state of intoxication and broke the flag…staff of the
sorcerers； from which it was inferred that Kaahumanu and her friends
had been instrumental in the King's death。 On this account they
were subjected to abuse。〃
You have the contrast； now； and a strange one it is。 This great Queen；
Kaahumanu； who was 〃subjected to abuse〃 during the frightful orgies that
followed the King's death； in accordance with ancient custom； afterward
became a devout Christian and a steadfast and powerful friend of the
missionaries。
Dogs were； and still are； reared and fattened for food； by the natives
hence the reference to their value in one of the above paragraphs。
Forty years ago it was the custom in the Islands to suspend all law for a
certain number of days after the death of a royal personage； and then a
saturnalia ensued which one may picture to himself after a fashion； but
not in the full horror of the reality。 The people shaved their heads；
knocked out a tooth or two； plucked out an eye sometimes； cut； bruised；
mutilated or burned their flesh； got drunk； burned each other's huts；
maimed or murdered one another according to the caprice of the moment；
and both sexes gave themselves up to brutal and unbridled licentiousness。
And after it all； came a torpor from which the nation slowly emerged
bewildered and dazed； as if from a hideous half…remembered nightmare。
They were not the salt of the earth； those 〃gentle children of the sun。〃
The natives still keep up an old custom of theirs which cannot be
comforting to an invalid。 When they think a sick friend is going to die；
a couple of dozen neighbors surround his hut and keep up a deafening
wailing night and day till he either dies or gets well。 No doubt this
arrangement has helped many a subject to a shroud before his appointed
time。
They surround a hut and wail in the same heart…broken way when its
occupant returns from a journey。 This is their dismal idea of a welcome。
A very little of it would go a great way with most of us。
CHAPTER LXIX。
Bound for Hawaii （a hundred and fifty miles distant；） to visit the great
volcano and behold the other notable things which distinguish that island
above the remainder of the group； we sailed from Honolulu on a certain
Saturday afternoon； in the good schooner Boomerang。
The Boomerang was about as long as two street cars； and about as wide as
one。 She was so small （though she was larger than the majority of the
inter…island coasters） that when I stood on her deck I felt but little
smaller than the Colossus of Rhodes must have felt when he had a man…of…
war under him。 I could reach the water when she lay over under a strong
breeze。 When the Captain and my comrade （a Mr。 Billings）； myself and
four other persons were all assembled on the little after portion of the
deck which is sacred to the cabin passengers； it was fullthere was not
room for any more quality folks。 Another section of the deck； twice as
large as ours； was full of natives of both sexes； with their customary
dogs； mats； blankets； pipes； calabashes of poi； fleas； and other luxuries
and baggage of minor importance。 As soon as we set sail the natives all
lay down on the deck as thick as negroes in a slave…pen； and smoked；
conversed； and spit on each other； and were truly sociable。
The little low…ceiled cabin below was rather larger than a hearse； and as
dark as a vault。 It had two coffins on each sideI mean two bunks。
A small table； capable of accommodating three persons at dinner； stood
against the forward bulkhead； and over it hung the dingiest whale oil
lantern that ever peopled the obscurity of a dungeon with ghostly shapes。
The floor room unoccupied was not extensive。 One might swing a cat in
it； perhaps； but not a long cat。 The hold forward of the bulkhead had
but little freight in it； and from morning till night a portly old
rooster； with a voice like Baalam's ass； and the same disposition to use
it； strutted up and down in that part of the vessel and crowed。 He
usually took dinner at six o'clock； and then； after an hour devoted to
meditation； he mounted a barrel and crowed a good part of the night。
He got hoarser all the time； but he scorned to allow any personal
consideration to interfere with his duty； and kept up his labors in
defiance of threatened diphtheria。
Sleeping was out of the question when he was on watch。 He was a source
of genuine aggravation and annoyance。 It was worse than useless to shout
at him or apply offensive ep
