The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-23
6URIALS.
Precautions to Preserve the Bones of
Chiefs From Vengeance After Death.

Chiefs From Vengeance After Death.
Some students of Hawaiian customs
declare hat the people OF the islands
never were cannibals. The popular
idea thai these new Americans have
been nourished on their friends and
relatives arose probably in a misappre-
hension of what happened to Captain
Cook after he was killed at Kealake-
kua.
The honorable sepulture reserved for
chiefs and men of note have caused the
first voyagers about the islands to
think that they had proof of the prac-
tice, which really the Hawaiians are
said TO have viewed with as much hor-
ror as more civilized races. When a
chief died IL became the duty OF his
trusty kahus, confidential advisers in
life and sworn to the performance of
the last rites. to remove the body and
bury it secretly. That which the Ha-
waiians honored I'm burial was the per-
manent part of the body; the flesh was
regarded as transitory and perishable,
and therefore not worthy of sepul-
chure. The flesh of the corpse was
cut from the bones and burned: the
bones themselves were carefully
cleaned. soaked in oil and FURNISHED
red with turmeric. Tied up together in
a snug parcel. they were deposited in
'AAi S'NA'A INV il'At II Noulu bt
impossible for an enemy to find them,
and thus have the nance of bringing
dishonor upon the dead.
Two centuries & the great chief
Kuall 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 " and the other islands that
he was sure 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 n ma
rauder who might seek to dishonor
them.
As soon as the breath had left the
body Of the aged chieftain the kahu
hurried his precious treasure away 10 a
secret place. in the Oahu mountains to
fulfill his solemn promise. Returning.
he sent invitations 10 all the %neighbors
and tributary chiefs to attend a feast
in honor of the dead. From all the
lands of oahu they gathered and from
the surrounding islands, from Molokai
up the wind. and from Kauia down the
wind. When the games had been per-
formed with all the ceremonies with
which the Polynesians turn the DAYS OF
mourning into a season Of rejoicing.
the feast was spread for the chiefs and
common people. After the last food
had been eaten and the c~alabashes
were empty the chiefs asked the kahu
II he had carried u the dying wish
of his master; IL the bones were bur
led where there was no chance that
they might be desecrated In any hoom-
auhala, the Hawaiian vendetta which
was waged against the dead as well
as the living. With the grim assur-
ance that his duty had been faithfully
performed the kahu swept his hand i'm
a comprehensive gesture about the cir
Gle of a hundred chiefs and said.
There are the graves of Kualll: no
one can disturb his bones where they
rest"
He had not only cleaned the bones Of
his master. but he had beaten them
and rubbed them into a fine meal. The
night before the feast he had secretly
visited the house in which were stored
the great C~alahashes Of poi provided
provided for the refreshment Of the
chiefs. Into this moi he stirred the
meal TO which the aged king had been
reduced The next morning the re-
mains Of Kaulil found their last rest
ing place in the bodies OF those who
had Pathered to do him honor. and
were beyond the reach of hostility and
vendetta. The chiefs praised the in
Eenuity Of the kahu and honored his
fidelity. His story has been handed
down as a type OF the devoted servant.