The San Francisco call., 1908-03-08
By II. Coffin Berry

the subterrsnesn excavations
or oatacombs which are found
in all directions outside the
: walls OF Rome and elsewhere. and
which served as places OF worship and
refuge for the living and final rest
ing place for the dead: but it is not
generally known that within our own
Hawaiian territory an ancient and
primitive people similarly obtained Sc
ourIty for their departed The exca-
vations passages and galleries about
Rome were followed out Of dry, porous
lava rock which served fits purpose
well Nature, which always smiles
upon subequatorial native and induces
Inertia. furnished the lava formation
with ready made passages. galleries
and playhouses or all shapes and di-
mensions.
By far the greater number OF cata
combs about Rome are subsequent 10
tbs middle or the second century. while
those OF the Hawaiian islands ante
date them by many centuries and. un-
like those OF Rome. still remain
sealed storehouse Of vast information
awaiting scientific inspection and re-
search. These Islands resemble in part
a large sponge OF lava and volcanic
Stag, and so frequent are the caves
and volcano bubbles that one might
search carefully for many weeks OF
months without finding even a sugEes-
tion OF ancient habitation. II you wish
e correct impression OF these islands
snd cannot spare the time for an
ocean voyage OF six days, Just make
the ascent OF Mount Hamilton some
clear night and look at the moon
through the big telescope st Lick ob-
se-vatory. You viii tnen see the ex
ttnct crsters and lava beds as they
would appear above the Hawaiian
Islands.
Method of Burial
Several different methods of burial
-vere practtced, depending upon station.
TIE funeral rites OF high chief dif-
fered widely from those Of the common
,eople. human sacrifices being offered
that he might enter the other world
xzish attendance suitable TO his rank
Tzis cfeansed bones. entirely freed from
tie flesh and neatly covered with
s7xapa" and red feathers, were eventu-
ally concealed in some secret and In
accessible cave by a trusty attendant,
reiecte6 before death and sworn 70
eecrecv. The bones were carried to
the selected place OF concealnent by
night when the attendants had fallen
asieeD and after the -'Kunf' sorcerers
had avenged the chiefs death, usually
supposed TO be due to evil spirits. The
common people also were buried IN
caves. or subterranesn caverns, by
night. and frequently we find the body
e,nhslrned BY means Of salt or some Dry
ing process. the upper part Of the body
Ilei,e bent forward 10 the knees, with
80 bead. hands and knees bound to-
e,e+l-er i,.- means OF coro, the body
,ersnred in coarse mating, or KAPPA
and then placed IN some open cave ana
r,r~6unded bv household effects. tHple-
-nerts OF war. canoes. treasure chests
s-ffcies Of food, etc. The cave was then
~arefvilv concealed from view by means
Of loose stones. which were IN Turn
concealed and protected by means OF
mick growth OF "lantana," which pris
fles with poisonous thorns, and which
when dry and brittle, penetrate the
ae~h ike needles, break of and cause
painful wounds
During the first few days after
death ghosts are supposed 70 haone
b,,riaf caves and battlehelds and 70
enseavor TO strangle their enemies
but gradually become weaker 10 iOoA
1Ipon certain Of these was supposed 70
cause instant death, and l nave met
natives even today who believe tnat
thew have seen the spirit or some oe-
parted chief marching by night Win