Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-01-23
KANEHAMEHA'S OBSEQUIES.
The Peculiar Ceremonies Observed ON
the 0ceasiOn-A Curious Mixture Of
the BarbarOus.

Honolulu Correspondence New York Tribune ]
The death of his late Majesty Kane
hameha V. has left the Hawaiian
kingdom without a head The Sow
ereign lust deceased was the grandson
of the great Kamehameha, a famous
warrior who, about sixty years ago, re-
duced under his sway all the islands
composing the group, and established q
dynasty. The reign just closed had eX-
tended over period of nine years, the
King expiring at the age of forty-two.
on the anniversary of his birth. 1t has
] been known for months that the Sow
ereign was in a very precariOus state
of health, but no official bulletin stating
| the facts was allowed to be published.
! On the morning of the eleventh instant
! he walked TO his breakfast table. and
soon afterward returning, lay down and
! expired without a struggle. Some ac-
count of the ceremonies observed i'll this
mid-Ocean kingdom on occasions of
death in the royal family will probably
| be of interest. 1t is the universal Gus
| tom of the natives to wall for the dead.
Men and women join in uttering long
drawn, plaintive cry, broken into a
guaver as by the striking of the hand
against the throat. The cry was sent
up by the household attendants as soon
as the King was known to have expired.
The royal standard was lowered and
forty-two minute-guns fired from the
battery ON Punch-Bowi Hill, an extinct
crater just behind the city.
1t is the custom here, when one of
high rank has died, to Immediately
prepare the body for lyingin state during
the very few hours that this climate
will allow. 1t is then inclosed in an
alright coffin, which remains for several
weeks in the palace, surrounded by signs
of honor and accessible to visitors,
During this period the natives resort
nightly in throngs TO the premises and
spend the time in wailing. In accor- !
dance with this custom the annexed !
proclamation was issued by authority |
of one of the royal household: IA |
COmmand-This is command, a call, |
an invitation to the common people, the |
tribes, the families and divisions of the |
ancient subjects of the different islands, |
to assemble and come, men, women and |
children, to attend upon and watch the
corpse of our King and lord, to remain |
there every night until the day of the |
funeral. The mauka gate of the palace
yard will he open for you every evening
until the hour Of half past seven
o'clock after which it will be tabu.
Drunkenness and disorderly or bad con-
duct is forbidden. But the quiet ex-
preston of sorrow, and real songs of
grieI, is what is allowed" / was one
of the few foreigners who, by taking ad-
vantage of the earliest opportunity,
gained access to the palace before the
gates were shut, which was done even
before the expiration OF the brief time
4
the Sovereign is a small and plain build
ing in the center of large square, in
closed by high stone wall. Passing
through the gates, now draped in
and guarded by the police,
we approached the palace steps, on
either side of which a detachment of
soldiers was drawn up, pre-
senuDg a fine military appearance.
of natives were pouring up the !
broad way, intent on taking last look
on their dead ruler. All the officers of
the Kingdom, civil and military, were
in attendance. The body of the late
King lay upon high dais, dressed in
uniform that presented an incOngru0us
There were red panta-
looms and black coat; the hands were
lncased in white kid gloves. Three
orders adorned the breast. To stran-
ger in the kingdom, the most interesting !
Of the surroundings were the large
mantles which We're thrown over the
bier. These are the famous feather !
cloaks, the peculiar possession of royal
ty. They are made by fastening yellow
feathers upon a network of twine, the
feathers being procured from a bird that ]
bears one only under each wing. a !
vast amount of time and labor must be i
to make one of these mantles, [
which are large enough to cover the :
body of a man and fall in folds about 7
him. They descend from generation to /
and are never allowed to !
pass out of the royal family, forming as I
hey do the State robes. The ap- l
is exceedingly beautiful; fine t
golden color is enhanced by the graceful b
orms in which the flexible material 9
falls. At the head of the dais L
was stand bearing the sword and hat =
If the deceased, and Oh other tables c
we're flowers and a silver dish in which
was burning incense. The Cabinet
Ministers stood together at the head,
while the sister of the late King, known
IS Ruth, the only surviving member of
he race of Kamehamehas, sat by the
ide of the corpse, the picture of sorrow.
)n each side of the body were two men !
waving what are called
;djiiiis. There are staffs bearing feath-
rs, made to stand erect like gigantic
'lumes. The original idea in this
ustOm is said to be to keep evil spirits s,
Iloof from the dead. 1t is general 2
observance among the natives. The q
inc of visitors passed by within view Q
# the body, and out into the palace q
ard. On the veranda of a house adj +,
Dining the Kings residence stood a t,
latve woman, who has for many years G
Exercised beundless control over the =
King. She has been known as his a
'sorceress," and is said to have sus- u
aimed to him even more intimate re-
atoms. She was uttering the wall for
he dead at the top of her voice. She
lad girdle drawn tightly around her
ody to assist in the prolonged exercise A
+ the lungs. Her misused power is
one, and she knows herself TO be the "a
bject Of universal aversion. The burial Il
( the late King viii not take place for $
everal weeks" il