The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-06-19
WIDOW sTRANGLhIo IN Fill.
A Horrible Rite That Was Carried Gu
With Much Ceremony.

with Much Ceremony.
Women in Fiji theoretically occupied
a high position, being regarded as an es'
sential and integral part OF her nus
band. A man was not considered COM
plete in this world without his wife,
nor could he pass into the next unless
she accompanied him. Therefore, the
death of a man was always closely fol-
lowed by that of his wife, and in the
case of a chief by that of all his harerr.
If a married woman died, passport to
the shades was furnished her in the
shape of her husbands beard. which
was cut off and placed under her left
armpit.
In case of the death of an unmarried
youth of either sex the person was
doomed to wander about in an inter-
mediate region between heaven and
came along to complete the couple.
When any one died whale tooth was
placed in his or her hand to be thrown
at the tree which stands as guide post
on the road to the other world. If the
ghost of the deceased hit this tree with
his or her missile acceptance with the
deities of the unseen was indicated.
Beyond this tree sat ''Nangga- Manga"
guardian of the path, who permitted
no man to pass unless he had his wife
with him. This spirit was. however,
credulous and easily deceived, and often
had grandmothers and aunts palmed off
on him as the wives of chiefs who es-
ssyed to pass him.
The Fijians were always practical
and far-seeing people. and where man
left behind him stout and buXOm wild
ow his llinsfolll often voted it foolish
ness to fool her away on ghost. Ac-
cordingly, She was appropriated by
some man who was strong enough to
urag her away and maintain his claim
to her with the club, and some tough
and ancient female relative suffered the
cord in her place. This was not ac-
complished without terrible row; the
widow, as well as all her connections,
resisting him tooth and nail. for it was
considered etiquette for the relatives of
the deceased to resent as an Insult a
proposal to marry the widow. Obstruc-
ton was not, however, carried too far,
and although the wooer might take the
marks of his courtship to the grave, the
opposition always drew off before he
was quite overpowered.
Widow strangling was carried out
with imposing ceremonies. All the
relatives of the deceased assembled in
the hut which he had occupied in life,
and to them the widow was brought in
Her brother, if she had one. was the ex-
ecutiOner, and the instrument was his
waist cloth. which ne unwound at her
entrance. The victim was made to as
sumo a position on hands and knees,
and the long cloth was given a turn
about her neck and held on either side
by her brother and another man. She
was then instructed to eXpcl all the air
from her lungs and hold up her hand as
a signal that all was ready, which, be-
ing done, the cloth was drawn tight and
swift and nearly painless death en-
sued.
Where a man had but one wife she
was laid side by side with him in the
grave. In the case of chiefs, possessed
OF several cOnsorts. all their wives were
strangled and placed in the grave for
him to lie upon. This in the direct and
expressive speech of Fiji was called
''c1rpeting the grave. boston journal.