The Portland gazette., 1820-06-22
MISCELLANY.
CUSTOMS OF THE N.47IVES OF THE
EEJEE ISLANDS,. = .

n the South Pacific Ocean in latitude about
Isl degrees ;lppgrude about ia degrees
West. The wsitels1e Received his information
from Capt. Siddons, in 1915, who had been
in brig 10 these Island TO procure freight of
sandei wood, a valuable article said 10 be
worth in China, SOL per ton. Capt s'ddons
spent several years among them, had an es
tate there, and acquired degree OF power
over the natives. The writer informs that bis
statements are fully corroborated by others.
A plurality Of wires is usual with the chiefs
or men Of importance, and some have I'VE or
six. When a chief dies, one OF more ot his
wives are strangled at the funeral AT one OF
these ceremonies, Capt. S. was present. The
corpse, rolled in kind Of cloth manutactur'
ed on The Island, was conveyedto the doo'
OF the caloo or priest, an order OF mea SUP
posed to foretellfuture events and placed on
The ground with the feet towards the door OF
the house /; here it was Immediately surround
ed by the multitude. A woman was seateu
at the head holding in her hand powder pun
with which she continually strewsd over the
face OF the corpse kind Of black powder.
AT length shout OF the multitude attracted
attention il announced the approach oi 'as
principal wife OF the deceased ,,who present,
appeared accompanied by TRENDS ot her SIX
She appeared serlous but not de]ected she
ad. anced 10 the body, kissed it. and 1aen re
treated about twenty steps, keepins hsr face
towards il. The widow placed hesselt Upon
the lap OF female, when several others at
tempted to kiss ber, but she Iepelled; lhem
scoInfully. :" The woman upon whose lap
she sat, then pul one Vi her hands on the back
part OF the head OF the widow, and the other
on her mouth; man suddenly placed . cord
upon her neck, and SIX men immediately took
hold OF II three at escl~end, aud pulled with
all .hen force - Not the least struggle was
observed. Capt. 8. was anxious 10 kaos
what would be done with the dead bodies
but was only able to see thea placed by the
side OF each other in the house of tie priest
with whom the final past Vi the ceremony
waSkept secret.
Capt. s. was acquainted with another in
stance OF the same kind. A fine young chief
who had Engaged to furnish him cargo Of
sandel wood, died before accomplishing his
engagement Capt. s. called on the mother
Of the chief, 4. in compliance with the custom
Of The country, requested to visit and speak to
the dead body. On entering the room with
the mother, he took hold OF the hand OF the de-
ceased and said see Riceammong, what
has happened to you I; you are dead, and
have lest US: you know the agreement that
existed between US, lhA! you were 10 procure
me freight of sandel wood, which have all
ready paid you for, and which have not re-
iceived what is to be done in the business.
Riceammong 2" The mother answered, /" yes
| recollect the agreement, and will take care
that il shalt be fulfilled" The mother was
anxious to save the principal wife OF her dead
son from the cruel death that superstition re-
quired, and proposed TO Capt. s. who had
The authority of chief, that he should bring
to the place OF the funeral valuable present,
hold il up in his hands, sink upon his knees,
and pronounce, beg the hje Of thi, 'voman.
This demand would enlitle Chief 10 the life
of the intended victim. Capt. S. ran 10 his
boat, pulled on board, thirty miles, returned
with large whales tooth, OF greater yalue
than gold in the view OF the inhabitants bu.
he was too late the caloo, hearing OF the in-
tended ransom, had FASTENED the ceremony
and the widow Of Riceammong was slrangled
| by the cord fifteen minutes before he arrived
.Neog Hampshie, Sentinel.
Robert Soathey, Poet Laureat Of Britain,
il is said is writing Poem, the scene Of which
is laid in Connecticut, and The subject, King
,hllips' wars Mr.. Sou'hey has been con
sidered, and doubtless truly, the author of
some Of the bilterest articles on this country
which have appeared In the London Quarter
| ly Reviews, and it is said lis intention is by
this work, to remove The impressions against
him which those articles have occasioned.
Copy Of a letter from one Of the principle men
Of color who lately left this country for the coast
Of Africa, addressed to gentleman in Newyork
Sherbro. March 3Oih, 1890.
Sir-We arrived at Sierra Leone, in thirty
one days after we left the dock, from New
York, and are all well. Our passage was
very good and pleasant; our captain was very
kind, and saw that justice was done. As for
the country, cannot say much about il for,
have moi been but twenty five or thirty miles
out, and what ] have seen is much better than
did ever expec, to see for, do expect there
| is gold mines and silver, copper and iron |
am confident diamonds The riches are so
great that | cannot express myself this !