The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-04
BURIALs.
Precautions to Preserve the Bones of Chiefs
from Vengeance After Death.

Precautions to Preserve the Bones of Chiefs
from Vengeance After Death.
Some students OF Hawaiian customs declare
that the people Of the islands never wero cam
nibals. The popular idea that these new
Americans have been nourished or their
friends and relatives arose probably In n mis-
apprehension OF what happened to Capt. Cook
after he was killed at Kealakekua.
The honorable sepulture reserved for chiefs
and men Of note may have caused tho first
voyagers about the islands TO think that they
had found proof OF the practice, which really
the Hawaiians arc said to have viewed with as
much horror rs moro civilized races. When a
chief died II became the duty Of his trusty
knhus. confidential advisers In life and sworn
to the performance Of the last rites, to remove
the body and bury II secretly. That which
the Hawaiians honored In burial was the per-
manent part OF the body tho flesh WINS regarded
ns transltory and pcrlshable. and therefore not
worthy OF sepulture. The flesh of the corpse
was cut of from the bones and burned tho
bones themselves were carefully cleaned.
soaked In oil. and FURNISHED red with turmerlc.
Tied up together In n snug parcel. they were
deposited in some secret cavo where IL would
be impossible for an enemy to find them, and
thus have the chance OF bringing dishonor
upon the dead.
Two centuries ago the great chief Kualii
was the moi or King over the island OF Oahu.
In the ninety years of his life he fought with
so many chiefs on his own and the other islands
that he was sure that his enemies would make
great efforts to get possession Of his bones and
on them wreak some Of the revenge which they
had not been able to take on him when alive.
To make sure that nothing Of this sort should
happen. he laid strict commands on his most
faithful kahu that he should bury his bones
beyond the reach of any marauder who might
seek to dishonor, them.
aged chieftain the kahu hurried his precious
treasure away into q secret place in tho Oahu
turning. he sent Invitations to all the ~neighbors
and tributary chiefs to attend 2 feast in honor
gathered and from surrounding islands. from
Molokai up the wind, and from Kauai down the
witS all T the cs sns sa%ss w RR2 R SfGe hFtfhr a Poiyi
nesians turn the days OF mourning into q sea:
son Of rejoicing. the feast was spread
ter the last food had been eaten and. the
calabashes, were empty the. chiefs asked the
his master; ii. the bones were buried where
there was no chance that. they might be desc
GGF etts WITCH n Any w ne0% %ased ae fhe Hf tSe deaG Gen as
well as the living. With the, grim assurance
that his duty had been faithfully performed the
ture about the circle Of a hundred chiefs and
said
disturb his bones where they rest"
He had not only cleaned the bones Of his mas
fine meal. The night before the. feast he had
secretly visited the house in which were stored
freshment Of the chiefs. Into this poi he stir
red the meal to which the aged king had been
reduced. The, next morning the remains Of
Kualii found their resting place in. the bodies
OF those who had, gathered to do him honor,
and were beyond tho reach of hostility and
vendetta. The chiefs praised the ingenuity Of
the kahu and honored his fidelity. His story has
been handed down as the type OF the devoted
servant.